An all-out battle involving BN-PH in the cards? Former UMNO strongman predicts as tensions continue simmering

 

AN all-out battle involving unity government coalition partners – Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are in the cards post-Melaka state election.

This was revealed by former Johor state assembly speaker Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi on Facebook.

The former UMNO Supreme Council member also confirmed that UMNO and BN will not pull the plug and quit the federal government.

It would be easier to bring down the government from within. There would be no effect on BN. The impact would be on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan that wished to be brought down.

This would result in an all-out battle after the Melaka state election, stressed the former deputy minister on Facebook.

The former state assemblyman of Rengit also explained why UMNO would not quit the government.

Unlike the eighth prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who excluded UMNO’s senior party leaders, Anwar included them in his Cabinet.

He also explained why Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the UMNO led BN is collaborating with federal opposition bloc, PN.

For Zahid, a key reason is because he is confident that a BN-PN collaboration would bring down PH and he wants to become to be the next prime minister.

Zahid has become Deputy Prime Minister under two administrations. The first was during former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He is also the number-two man in the Madani administration.

He also holds the distinction of leading the party and not the government in recent times.

The main reason UMNO ministers are not pulling the plug is because it is easier to bring down the government from within. It would not affect BN. The impact is on Anwar and PH that wishes to be defeated.

Tensions have been simmering since the Negeri Sembilan state election that saw BN and PN gang up together to take over the PH led state government.

PH component – Amanah have been demanding for BN to leave the unity federal government. The latest to echo this sentiment is Amanah communication director Khalid Samad.

Some quarters were hopeful that BN would be on PH’s side for the 16th General Election (GE16).

As for Puad, the former UMNO man quit his party after alleging that Johor UMNO wasn’t able to decide on its own as he added that the state palace intervened in party decisions.

He quit UMNO on June 25, 2026 during the Johor state election. He even campaigned alongside Anwar for PKR at that time. –  Focus Malaysia