Barisan has not held talks with GPS to form pact together with Perikatan, says Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional has not held any talks with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) on forming a pact with the Sarawak-based coalition together with Perikatan Nasional to form the next Federal Government, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"So far, no discussions have been held with Perikatan that equates to an understanding to form a Federal Government," said the Barisan chairman in a statement on Sunday (Nov 20) night.

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He also said all Barisan MPs who won seats in GE15 had signed a statutory declarations and given the mandate to him as coalition chairman to determine any political pacts.

"Any MP who goes against the party's instructions will result in the disqualification of their party membership, including the parliamentary seat, in line with the anti-hopping law as stipulated under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution," he said.

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Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, was responding to GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg's statement that the Sarawak-based coalition would support a pact with Perikatan, Barisan and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to form the new Federal Government.

The Sarawak Premier told a press conference that this decision was made in the interest of political stability and the people's well-being, subject to conditions laid out by GPS.

Abang Johari also said GPS was backing Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be the prime minister.

He noted, however, that it was up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to choose the individual who commanded majority support in Parliament to be prime minister.

Muhyiddin also said in a statement on Sunday (Nov 20) that he now had enough support to form the government and be the next prime minister.