BUTTERWORTH: Barisan Nasional has no direct relationship with DAP and has only worked with Pakatan Harapan, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said it has to be established that any cooperation between Barisan and Pakatan was not party to party but coalition to coalition.
“Barisan has never worked with DAP officially. Our cooperation is only with Pakatan, and DAP is a component party of Pakatan, as are Amanah and PKR,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party annual general assembly.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to MCA’s resolution rejecting cooperation with DAP in the upcoming general election. He said MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah remained component parties within Barisan.
“Barisan will prioritise the interests of its own component parties, particularly during seat negotiations.
“When it is time to decide which seats will be contested by component parties from Pakatan or Barisan, the interests of our component parties will be given priority.
“This can be achieved through negotiations, and I do not see this as a major problem if there is understanding and consultation,” he said.
On MIC’s position, Ahmad Zahid said Barisan will decide on MIC’s behalf if the party’s leadership fails to decide on its stance.
“We know that MCA and MIC were part of the Alliance during the struggle for independence.
“If the current leadership is unable to decide, even though delegates have given absolute authority to the party leadership to do so, then I want to repeat; if they cannot make a decision, we will make the decision.
“We do not want a situation where one thing is said in the morning, another in the afternoon and something else is said the next day,” he added.
It was reported that the 79th MIC general assembly had postponed a decision on whether the party would leave or remain in the coalition after its deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan tabled three motions.
These included a proposal for MIC to exit the coalition and apply to join the opposition bloc.
