Anwar: BN asked for more time to discuss pact with PH
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) has asked for a little more time before deciding if it wants to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the next Federal Government, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
“We have also looked into BN’s statement that they will make a decision as a team and block, and that all signatures made before are void,” he told a media conference after discussions with BN representatives here yesterday.
Anwar, who is PH’s prime minister candidate, said in the discussions, BN has also agreed to back him as Prime Minister.
He said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also did not set any conditions, including dropping his (Ahmad Zahid) court charges. Anwar also described the cooperation between BN and PH in Perak as a positive start, saying that both coalitions have got what it takes to work together.
When asked about anti-BN elements by PH during its GE15 campaign, Anwar, while admitting this, said PH still required the support of other parties to form a government since no party secured a simple majority.
GE15 ended with a hung Parliament situation when no party or coalition of political parties obtained a simple majority to form the Federal Government. The polls on Nov 19 saw Pakatan Harapan (PH) winning 82 parliamentary seats, Perikatan Nasional (73), while Barisan Nasional managed 30.
A total of 112 seats are needed for a simple majority to form the government.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid has asked for an extension of time to submit the statutory declaration (SD) to Dewan Rakyat Speaker to be presented to the Yang DiPertuan Agong.
The Umno president said this was to enable BN to hold official discussions and negotiations with other coalitions to form the new federal government.
“We, BN elected representatives, agreed to Speaker’s notice to submit the SD by 2pm yesterday.
“But, we are hoping that the Speaker can give a more flexible time for us to submit the SD after our discussions with several parties,” he told a press conference at the Seri Pacific Hotel here yesterday, which was attended by 26 BN elected representatives.
Among those present were BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan.
Ahmad Zahid also repeated that BN had never officially discussed about merging with Perikatan Nasional (PN) or other parties to form the government.
“Any statement claiming that BN is included in a merger (of coalitions to form a new government) is untrue as there was no such discussion, especially with PN.
“In this matter, any decision made by the negotiation committee is final and must be adhered to by all BN representatives as we all contested on BN’s ticket,” he said.
As such, individuals who signed any document to name their own preferred PM candidate shall be deemed null and void as it violated the party’s decision and the SD signed by the elected representatives.