SHAH ALAM: Discussions on potential alliances with other political parties must originate from the highest levels of leadership, says Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
He stressed that lower-ranking officials should not be involved in such matters without a mandate from senior leaders.
“These discussions should (begin at) party president level. When the time is right, representatives will be authorised to speak,” Hamzah told a press conference here on Friday (Nov 29).
His remarks followed recent comments by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin, who suggested that a coalition of PAS, Umno and Bersatu would benefit the Malay Muslim community.
Hashim said that although he was unaware of formal efforts to lure Barisan Nasional away from the unity government, informal or individual contact could not be ruled out.
Recently, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that there were attempts to persuade Barisan to leave the government, including being offered the prime minister’s position.
Ahmad Zahid also claimed that Opposition MPs met with him about forming a new political coalition and they sought four Cabinet posts in return.
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Hamzah said the meeting was an informal discussion and not an official negotiation endorsed by the party's leadership.
“I asked the individual who met Ahmad Zahid in Parliament, and he explained that it was not a formal discussion. It was merely a casual conversation where he remarked, ‘Why be so afraid? DAP says all sorts of things about Umno'," Hamzah said.
He added that Ahmad Zahid responded by asking what he should do, to which the individual suggested leaving the unity government.
"When Ahmad Zahid asked how a government would be formed if Barisan left, the reply was 'You could join us'," he said.
However, Hamzah stressed that this exchange was not conducted with any mandate from Perikatan Nasional or Bersatu’s leadership.
“It was simply a suggestion made between friends, and it does not signify any formal invitation from the coalition,” he said.
Hamzah said Perikatan chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had confirmed that no official offers had been extended to any party to leave the current administration.
