Zahid sees collaboration with PN to be 'harmful to Umno'

BN’s decision to link up with Pakatan Harapan to form the federal government after the 15th general election (GE15), instead of tying up Perikatan Nasional (PN) as it did before, is because collaboration with the latter would be more harmful, coalition chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid said BN had made its own analysis based on which political alliance would bring the coalition the least harm in the long run. 

“We had to look at which coalition would bring us less harm and could help Umno stay relevant,” the Umno president said in a live-streamed interview on NRChannel TV’s YouTube channel last night. 

“The Umno supreme council decided that it would do more harm if we went with PN. 

“They contested in the same seats we contested in – the Malay Belt area. And we would be competing on the same battlefields.”

Therefore, Zahid said, Umno chose to side with Harapan as it would ensure the party and BN’s political survival.

“With Harapan, there is a huge potential for the party to win back votes in areas where we garnered fewer votes. We can re-examine the potential,” he said.

Without revealing names, Zahid disclosed that there were two members of the party’s supreme council who were against the decision of BN backing Harapan to form the federal government. 

“There were not more than two supreme council members who did not agree to it. 

“In the supreme council, we have different opinions, but when a decision has been reached, they all agree to it. 

“Is that undemocratic? Did I use autocratic power? Or am I a dictator who makes his own decisions? I prioritise the interests of the party,” Zahid added

Previously, Zahid came under fire from BN for allegedly going against the coalition’s decision by supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

There were also calls by MCA and MIC for Zahid’s resignation from his position as BN chairperson.

In last night’s interview, Zahid said he has forgiven leaders from BN’s component parties, saying he understood that they were under immense internal pressure.

The deputy prime minister also said he has “forgiven and forgotten” the 10 BN MPs who purportedly backed PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin as the 10th prime minister.

“I know it (the pressure) comes from within. Let us move on and not think of past events.

“To form a new alliance, we need to strengthen the party, prepare it for the new political landscape and put our differences aside.”

‘Blame Dr M for DAP being in govt’ 

Then, commenting on the dissatisfaction among certain quarters on DAP’s collaboration with Umno in the current administration, Zahid said the anger should be directed at former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir is to be blamed for the hatred for giving false impressions about DAP and “indoctrinating” the people for over 22 years, said Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister.

“In the end, he (Mahathir) was the one who accepted the party and brought them into the Harapan government the first time around. 

“We saw that Bersatu and PAS have accepted the party in the past. 

“Umno and BN are the only ones who have not,” he said, and he went on to give his assurance that he would not sacrifice his party’s philosophy despite establishing political cooperation with DAP.

Once an ardent critic of DAP, Zahid changed his tune after forming the government with the party, saying that DAP has provided guarantees to accept and comply with the four articles enshrined in the Federal Constitution, including Islam and the special rights of Malays. 

‘Umno lucky to get six ministerial posts’

Zahid then went on to say that BN, which only garnered 30 seats in GE15, should consider itself lucky to have more ministerial positions compared to DAP, which won 40 parliamentary seats. 

“We are lucky! We only garnered 30 seats (in GE15), and we were given six minister posts. The other party that won 40 seats was only given four posts. 

“Thanks to Anwar for giving us the opportunity to be ministers and deputy ministers,” he said when asked if BN was satisfied with the six ministerial positions and six deputy ministerial posts assigned to the coalition.

Commenting on BN’s performance in GE15, he said it was unexpected. 

Zahid acknowledged that it was impossible for BN to win big if its members are divided by differences, their personal interests, and different clusters, rather than focusing on the interests of the coalition.

“I did not expect (to secure only 30 seats) if there were unity, a sense of belonging, and teamwork in Umno and BN. 

“There are always skeletons in the cupboard.”

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