It was just chit-chat, not offer for BN to join opposition, says Hamzah

SHAH ALAM: Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin has downplayed a so-called “invite” by Arau MP Shahidan Kassim for Umno and Barisan Nasional to join the opposition coalition.

Hamzah said Shahidan’s “invite” came about during a casual conversation he had with deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Plus, Shahidan does not have the mandate to make offers to other parties to join PN.

“He (Shahidan) was merely suggesting it (for Umno to join PN) as a friend,” he told reporters after officiating the annual general assemblies of the Bersatu wings here today.

On Sunday, Zahid, who is also the Umno president, revealed that there had been efforts to persuade BN to leave the unity government to form a new administration.

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Without disclosing the parties involved, Zahid claimed that BN was also offered the prime minister’s post if it agreed to the proposal.

He said he rejected the offer as he was unwilling to betray his allies in the unity government.

Two days ago, Shahidan, a former BN MP now with PAS, denied claims he had met with Zahid to discuss forming a new government.

Shahidan said there was no need to hide under a cloak of secrecy when it came to such matters as he, along with other PN leaders, had always openly invited BN to join forces and form a new government in the name of Malay-Muslim unity.