Zahid says BN will leave unity government once Parliament is dissolved

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition would no longer be part of the unity government once the 15th Parliament is dissolved.

He was speaking at the 18th annual general assembly of Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.

"BN decided to be with the government after GE15, and our commitment is to remain in the government until the end of the 15th term. When Parliament is dissolved, we will no longer be with them. This is our promise," he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.

Ahmad Zahid linked that commitment to BN's decision to join the government after GE15 in deference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree. He also stressed that BN's place in government did not mean the coalition had given up its own identity and positions.

No immediate withdrawal

The remarks did not announce any withdrawal of support for the government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Instead, they set the dissolution of Parliament as the end point of the current partnership.

Ahmad Zahid did not announce a dissolution date. Reports of his speech also did not spell out whether BN would contest alone, form a new electoral pact or reopen talks on cooperation after the 16th general election (GE16) results are known.

Today's position is in line with his remarks on Sept 12. According to RTM, he said then that the UMNO general assembly's resolution kept BN with the unity government until the end of the term, and urged cabinet members to remain professional despite differences of opinion.

Melaka talks go through party process

On the Melaka state election, TVS reported Ahmad Zahid as saying that talks on candidates and strategy, including the form of any cooperation, would be decided through party processes and brought to the BN Supreme Council before being finalised.

A day earlier, he said BN headquarters had arranged two separate meetings with two different groups next week. According to Sinar Harian, he declined to name either group, saying only that they could involve Perikatan Nasional (PN), Pakatan Harapan (PH) or other parties.

Those state-level talks do not amount to a decision on BN's partners for GE16. Seat allocations and the shape of any pact to be put to voters have yet to be announced.

2022 agreement tied to current term

The unity government was formed under a memorandum of understanding signed on Dec 16, 2022 by PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Warisan. The agreement tied the partnership to the term of the 15th Parliament while recognising the identity of each party.

That timeframe explains why BN has set dissolution as the end point of its commitment. The agreement does not, however, bar any party from reaching a new arrangement after the election.

Dissolution also does not by itself end a minister's tenure. Article 43 of the Federal Constitution governs the position of cabinet members, while Article 55 requires a general election to be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved.

On the DAP side, secretary-general Anthony Loke said on Sept 6 that there was no need to dissolve Parliament as long as the understanding held and Anwar retained majority support among MPs. According to Bernama, he wanted the remaining term used for reforms and the tabling of Budget 2027. His remarks came before Ahmad Zahid's speech today.