KUALA LUMPUR: PAS‘ invitation to MIC and MCA to join Perikatan Nasional is an attempt to lure Barisan Nasional component parties with uncertain promises, says Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Sinar Harian on Tuesday (Sept 2) reported that Ahmad Zahid described the statement by PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as a personal one.
“I know there are efforts being made to lure friends in the Barisan component with offers that do not necessarily promise any real benefit to them,” he said.
He made these remarks at a press conference after attending the monthly gathering of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) on Monday (Sept 1).
Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim, in a local newspaper interview, welcomed MIC and MCA to join the Perikatan coalition following the dissatisfaction of Barisan component partners who were left without representation in the government.
Previously, several MCA leaders also voiced discomfort with the close relationship between Umno and DAP, which was seen as conflicting with the party’s long-standing political stance.
This issue gained traction when MIC Kedah recently passed a resolution to cooperate with Perikatan and did not rule out the possibility of leaving Barisan.
The cordial relationship between Umno and DAP came under scrutiny after the formation of the Unity Government in late 2022, which saw the previously adversarial parties now united in the national administration.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that the MIC leadership had not held discussions with him regarding the resolution.
“The resolution comes from one or two divisions, and their leadership has not even held discussions with me, let alone brought it to the BN supreme council,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
