Hamzah moots GE15 grand coalition between PN-BN-GPS

 

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin has mooted a "political understanding charter" to form a grand coalition between Perikatan Nasional (PN), BN, and Sarawak's Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the 15th general election.

Hamzah said PN-BN-GPS signing a pact would ensure continued cooperation between the three, as well as shore up public confidence.

"With the signing of this charter, the people will be more confident that the coalition has strong political stability to continue governing the country through policies that will advance the economy, develop the country, and protect the people in the future," he said in a statement.

A grand coalition could be favourable to Bersatu and Umno.

Despite being at odds with each other, both parties could struggle to win enough seats on their own to form the federal government in the next general election.

This is especially important for Umno to continue getting support from PAS - which has become more aligned with Bersatu as joint members of PN.

This formulation was evident after Umno ousted Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar last week.

After the move, PAS announced it would not take part in forming the next Perak government, while Bersatu was irked by Umno.

This made it difficult for Umno, as it was five seats short of forming the state government.

The matter was only resolved after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi apologised for ousting Faizal in a meeting with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Hamzah Zainudin

Touching on the Perak incident, Hamzah said when PN was formed in February, an agreement was made that states would be governed by consensus, and not by who had the most numbers.

It was agreed, he said, that Bersatu would continue governing Perak while handing over Johor to Umno and Kedah to PAS.

Hamzah added that moving forward, a grand PN-BN-GPS coalition would enable them to capture states that are under opposition control.

The opposition holds Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Penang.

Umno had previously stressed that it was not a member of PN, and that cooperation would only last until an election was called.

GPS, meanwhile, maintains that it is only a PN-ally in the federal government, and not a member of the pact. - Mkini