KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional will part ways with the unity government once Parliament is dissolved, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said Barisan would remain committed to the coalition until then, in line with the agreement reached after the 15th General Election.
“The moment the current Parliament is dissolved, we will no longer be part of that government.
“That is our promise. It is a promise we made to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It is a commitment we made when we entered the unity government,” he said in his opening address at the 18th annual general assembly of the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party.
Also present at the event were MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and other component party leaders.
Ahmad Zahid said Barisan’s participation in the unity government did not mean giving up its political identity or positions.
“Barisan remains Barisan,” he said.
“Our agreement is at the national level. The recent state elections showed that we can uphold that principle.
“We can still compete against each other and have different political alignments at the state level.”
Earlier, the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party called on Barisan to leave the unity government as soon as possible.
On the Melaka polls, Ahmad Zahid said the coalition’s top leadership would decide which parties it will work with in the election, adding that he would not use his authority as Barisan chief to unilaterally decide which parties or groups to cooperate with.
“Negotiations on candidates and election strategy will be decided through proper party and coalition processes,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also said that he had met with Melaka Barisan chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to discuss several matters, including cooperation on the state polls.
“I was in Melaka on Saturday and held discussions with Ab Rauf.
“Once all discussions are completed, we will bring the matter to the top Umno leadership and the Barisan supreme council to determine the form of understanding or cooperation that we need to establish for the Melaka election,” he said.
Asked if Barisan would allow Perikatan Nasional to use its logo following the suspension of activities by the Registrar of Societies, he said it would be up to Perikatan to use whatever logo or symbol they want to use.
The Election Commission will hold a special meeting on Oct 7 to decide key dates for the 16th Melaka state election.
The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Sept 23.
In the 2021 state polls, Barisan won 21 of the 28 seats. Pakatan Harapan won five and Perikatan two.
