Strong together: Hamzah (front centre) standing with Bersatu members and supporters in Shah Alam, Selangor. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
SHAH ALAM: While there has been intense speculation that Perikatan Nasional could work with Barisan Nasional in the next general election, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin says it is just loose talk.
He claimed that such talk are rumours stemming from casual conversations between leaders of the two coalitions.
Bersatu is a key component of Perikatan.
Hamzah was responding to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that there have been attempts to persuade Barisan to leave the unity government, including an offer for the prime minister’s position.
Ahmad Zahid also said Opposition MPs had approached him to form a new political coalition and sought four Cabinet posts in return.
However, Hamzah said neither Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin nor the coalition’s top leadership had authorised any official negotiations with parties in the government.
He said the meeting with Ahmad Zahid involved a Perikatan leader who is an “old friend” of the Barisan chairman.
“I spoke to the person who met (Ahmad) Zahid, and he explained that it was not a formal discussion.
“It was merely a casual conversation where he said: ‘Why be so afraid? DAP says all sorts of things about Umno,’ to which Zahid responded by asking what he should do,” Hamzah told a press conference yesterday.
“The person then suggested that Barisan leave the unity government. Zahid asked how a government could be formed if Barisan left, and the person said, ‘You could join us.’
“It was just a suggestion and not a formal invitation from Perikatan. So how can Ahmad Zahid claim there was a mandate from Perikatan?” he added.
Asked to identify the individual, Hamzah replied: “You should ask Ahmad Zahid who that person is.”
Speculation has also been rife about who the person was, with some pointing to Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
Shahidan, however, held a press conference denying having met Ahmad Zahid on the matter.
Shahidan, who is now with PAS, said Perikatan leaders have openly invited Barisan to form a new government in the name of Malay-Muslim unity.
“Such offers have been made publicly, including in the Dewan Rakyat.
“But I don’t know how the rumour that I met Ahmad Zahid to persuade Umno to leave the unity government came about,” he said in the Parliament building.
On a recent remark by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin, who suggested that a coalition between PAS, Umno and Bersatu would benefit the Malay-Muslim community, Hamzah said discussions on alliances must come from the highest levels of leadership.
He said such matters should not be driven by lower-ranking officials.
“These discussions should come from party presidents, with representatives authorised to speak,” Hamzah said.
At the same press conference, he revealed that Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali would also be appointed the new Perikatan secretary-general.
Hamzah said Azmin’s appointment is expected to be endorsed at Perikatan’s supreme council meeting on Dec 9.
Bersatu is currently holding its annual general assembly at the Ideal Convention Centre here. The assembly will continue until tomorrow.
