PN leaders dismiss Zahid’s claim on forming new govt
PN Supreme Council member Ronald Kiandee says no such discussions have been carried out by the party.
(FMT) – Several Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders have denied that the coalition had approached any party, including Umno, to discuss the formation of a new government, as recently claimed by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
PN Supreme Council member Ronald Kiandee also dismissed the claim by Zahid of efforts to persuade Barisan Nasional (BN) to quit Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
“As far as I know, there has not been any decision by both sides (PN and BN) to negotiate a new political alignment.
“If there are individuals, including MPs, who are involved in such discussions, it is not carried out with the party’s mandate,” he told FMT.
Yesterday, Zahid, who is the BN chairman, revealed such attempts, including an offer for the prime minister’s post if it agreed to the proposal. He however did not disclose the parties involved.
Zahid said he rejected the offer as he was unwilling to betray his allies in the unity government.
Kiandee went on to say that PN wanted to focus on its role as the opposition now.
“We are happy to continue playing a check-and-balance role.”
PN Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said even if there was a meeting between opposition leaders and those from BN, it would have been done in their individual capacities.
He also challenged Zahid to reveal the identities of those who tried to persuade BN to leave the government if there was any truth to his claims.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari took a swipe at Zahid’s claim, saying it was reminiscent of a similar one made by Anwar, the then opposition leader, six months after the general election in 2008.
Anwar, it was reported, had then claimed he had enough support to succeed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the prime minister as several MPs from BN would be jumping ship.
“It is not strange that years later, his students are putting it into practice,” he said, referring to Anwar.
