PETALING JAYA: The proposed "Perikatan Barisan Nasional" (PBN) name is simply meant to make it easier to refer to Perikatan Nasional's cooperation with Barisan Nasional during the Negri Sembilan state election, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
The Parti Wawasan Negara secretary-general said the name that was introduced by its president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was a spontaneous suggestion and was not meant to be the official name of a new political coalition, reported Sinar Harian.
"During one of his campaign speeches in support of Barisan and Perikatan candidates in the Negri Sembilan state election, Hamzah said it might be better to use a single name that combined both coalitions since some people had been slipping up when referring to the cooperation.
"He did not say it was an official name. It was merely to make things easier, so he suggested PBN.
"Why? Because Barisan is the senior coalition, it would be appropriate to retain its full name while using only part of Perikatan," he said.
It was reported that several Umno leaders had expressed unease over the name, describing it as irrelevant because it did not reflect the formation of a new political coalition.
They also said the Barisan leadership had never discussed or approved the use of the new name.
According to Saifuddin, Hamzah had no objection if the name was not used.
"If people want to use BPN, that is fine. If they want to use another name, that is also fine. If, in future, we decide to adopt an official name, then we will discuss it formally.
"Hamzah has no other intention. He simply wants Wawasan to serve as a bridge in strengthening the Barisan and Perikatan cooperation to ensure the blue wave secures victory in the Negri Sembilan state election and goes on to win the 16th General Election," he said.
On Wednesday (July 22), it was reported that Hamzah had proposed that the Barisan and Perikatan electoral pact for the Negri Sembilan state election be called "Perikatan Barisan Nasional".
