GEORGE TOWN, JULY 23 — Barisan Nasional (BN) remains committed to working with the Unity Government until the end of the 15th parliamentary term, rejecting claims that there is an effort to topple the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also BN Chairman, said the commitment was in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s statement when the Unity Government was formed and had never changed.
“I have no intention at all, no Bangkok move, no Dubai move, we (BN) hold that when we committed to being in the Unity Government at the behest of the former Tuanku Agong, we are committed until the end of the 15th term of Parliament. Period.”
“There should be no doubt and so on. Let people speak, as long as there is a thought in our minds that we must be together, for political stability and our souls must be sincere in this matter,” he said at a press conference after chairing the Coordination Meeting between the Minister of Rural and Regional Development and the 61st Rural Exco-Exco (MEXCLUB) here, today.
Also present were Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, Penang Rural Development, Agrotechnology and Food Security Committee Chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol and BN Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
Commenting on reports regarding the closure of BN’s district polling centre (PDM) in the Klawang State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in the Negeri Sembilan State Election (PRN), Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO President, said the issue was being addressed by the state leadership.
“I have discussed this matter with the Chairman of the Negeri Sembilan UMNO Liaison Body (Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias) and it so happens that the area is in his parliamentary constituency (Jelebu).
“The matter is on its way to resolution. We have about nine days left and I think the matter can be resolved,” he said.
There are reports that the Klawang BN PDM is refusing to operate following protests after BN did not field a candidate in the state constituency in the Negeri Sembilan state election.
In this Negeri Sembilan state election, the Klawang state seat will witness a three-cornered contest between Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Bakri Sawir, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Danni Rais and Muhammad Adib Musa (Bersatu).
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid stressed that there have been no official discussions between BN and PN regarding political collaboration to be known as the Barisan Nasional Alliance (PBN).
He said the proposal was only mentioned in campaign speeches and had never been officially discussed, but rather had to be refined first with the parties involved.
At the same press conference, Ahmad Zahid also jokingly responded to the poem shared by the Prime Minister yesterday by delivering a poetic poem that was full of its own meaning.
“Climbing Mount Tahan, falling into a ravine to death. The roof was torn off, but it was able to hold on. If there was a storm, it was blown into the sea,” he said.
He also said that his relationship with Anwar was still as good and friendly as before, despite competing against each other in the Negeri Sembilan state election.
Yesterday, Anwar shared a series of poems about the importance of unity and discipline in friendship and consensus.
— BERNAMA
