KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional is committed to working with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming Sabah election, and is open to collaborating with other state-based parties, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“BN and PH are not just a simple ‘plus’; this is ‘plus, plus, plus’, which reflects our openness [to collaborate with Sabah parties]. Clearly, there will be no peninsula- or Sabah-based parties going it alone,” the Barisan chairman said.
This united front, he added, is crucial to ensure continuity in Sabah’s development agenda should the unity government secure victory at the polls.
On another matter, party wing leaders in the unity government alliance have been urged to avoid speculating about electoral seat talks in Melaka, he said.
Such matters, said the Umno president, should be left to the discretion of each party’s top leadership.
Responding to criticism directed at Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over the latter’s seat-sharing formula for the Melaka state election, Ahmad Zahid reminded all wings not to make premature public statements based on personal interpretations.
“I advise all the wings of parties within the unity government to let these matters be determined by their respective top leaderships.
“Do not be swayed by emotions or individual analysis. Leave it to the leadership,” he told reporters at the World Trade Centre here yesterday in conjunction with Umno’s 79th anniversary celebration.
Ahmad Zahid added that such issues have yet to be discussed at the coalition’s senior leadership level.
“This has not even been raised in our negotiations, so it should not be turned into a political polemic. It’s far too premature,” he said of the public spat about seat-sharing in the Melaka elections which only have to be called by January 2027.
Dr Muhamad Akmal had rejected a 14-14 seat-sharing formula between Barisan and Pakatan, calling it unrealistic given Barisan’s dominance in the state.
Amanah Youth responded by labelling Dr Muhamad Akmal’s comments as arrogant and contrary to the spirit of coalition cooperation.
