‘Perikatan Barisan Nasional’ just a casual idea, says Sanusi

 PN election director says Hamzah Zainudin's suggestion was personal and has not been discussed by coalition leaders.

Sanusi Nor said the proposed name of Perikatan Barisan Nasional is merely cosmetic and should not be blown out of proportion.

JEMPOL:

The proposal to name the electoral cooperation between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) “Perikatan Barisan Nasional” (PBN) was likely casually made and has never been formally discussed, PN election director Sanusi Nor says.

Sanusi said he had never heard the proposal being raised at any official meeting and regarded it as the personal view of Parti Wawasan Negara president Hamzah Zainudin.

“Maybe it was just a suggestion made casually. There has been no discussion at that level.

“He (Hamzah) is the only one who has proposed the term. The name is merely cosmetic and should not be blown out of proportion because it does not involve policy,” he told reporters after a ceramah in the Serting state constituency last night.

Hamzah had proposed naming the BN-PN electoral cooperation PBN to avoid confusing supporters of both coalitions ahead of the Negeri Sembilan election on Aug 1.

He said the proposal would be discussed with the leadership of the parties involved before any decision was made.

However, his suggestion was met with a lukewarm response from BN leaders.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there had been no formal discussions on extending the cooperation beyond the Negeri Sembilan election, while Umno vice-president Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail described the proposed name as “irrelevant”, saying it implied the formation of a new political coalition.

Wan Rosdy, who is also the Pahang menteri besar, stressed that the BN-PN arrangement was merely an electoral understanding for the Negeri Sembilan polls.

Meanwhile, Sanusi said PN was aiming to win all 11 seats it is contesting while helping BN secure the remaining 25 seats needed to form the state government.

“We hope the momentum of this BN-PN cooperation can be carried forward to Melaka and eventually to Putrajaya,” said the Kedah menteri besar.

Sanusi also dismissed claims that the BN-PN cooperation, which includes PAS, would deny the rights of non-Malays.

“Why should anyone be afraid of PAS? PAS is made up of good people. We have never oppressed anyone.

“So no one should fear PAS. Malaysians should instead be grateful to have a party like PAS,” he said. - FMT