Sarawak-based BN splinter coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will work together with Umno should the latter retake Putrajaya in the future, Umno presidential candidate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid, who is also acting BN chairperson, claimed GPS was formed with his consent following discussions with Sarawak chief minister Abang Johari Openg.

"Myself, together with Abang Johari and leaders of the (former) Sarawak BN parties agreed that they should form GPS.

"However, they have given me their assurance that God willing, if we work hard and become part of the federal government again, they will join us to form the federal government," he said in a video recording.

The video is believed to have been recorded yesterday at an Umno event at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

GPS was formed last week after Sarawak's four ruling state parties - PBB, SUPP, PRS, and PDP - quit BN.

Abang Johari has said that GPS would be friendly to the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

In the video, Zahid said he consented to GPS' formation because he understood that the four state-level ruling parties wanted to remain in power in the next Sarawak state election.

He noted that in the 2016 Sarawak state election, BN had won 72 out of 82 state seats.

However, their dominance in the state was reduced significantly in the May 9 general election winning only 19 out of the state's 31 parliament seats.

"In another two or two-and-a-half years they will have another state election so they want to continue forming the state government," Zahid said.

The exit of Sarawak from BN has left the former ruling coalition with just 57 parliament seats, 54 of which are held by Umno.