BN-PH Plus Plus Plus possible - Zahid
Zahid
KOTA KINABALU (May 17): The proposal to form a Barisan Nasional (BN)–Pakatan Harapan (PH) Plus Plus Plus coalition for the 17th state election (PRN17) reflects the current political landscape, where no single party is strong enough to form a government alone, said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He noted that similar trends are unfolding globally, with coalitions — comprising both major and smaller parties — becoming increasingly common in 77 countries.
'What we see at the federal level, where parties collaborate to form a government, is also happening elsewhere. This may also happen in Sabah,' he said after launching the Sepanggar Umno Gerak 17 machinery at the IKM Institute in Sepanggar on Saturday.
However, Zahid emphasized that the final decision rests with Sabah Umno which has been granted autonomy.
'The proposed BN–PH Plus Plus Plus coalition has not been finalised. We've always kept the door open for discussions and are ready to work with other parties in preparation for PRN17,' he said.
He cited the outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15) as a reminder that no party, including Umno, was dominant enough to form a government on its own.
'Umno secured only a small number of seats in GE15, yet those seats played a pivotal role in forming the current federal government. No party should feel too dominant or unwilling to collaborate,' he added.
Zahid reiterated that Umno remains open to talks with any party up until nomination day for PRN17 and affirmed that Sabah Umno will make its own decisions.
'We have entrusted full autonomy to Sabah Umno. I am confident that under Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's leadership, he will engage not only with local parties in Sabah but also maintain communication with us in Putrajaya,' he said.
When asked about the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment, Zahid questioned the relevance of such rhetoric, urging Malaysians to prioritize mutual cooperation instead.
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