The Malaysian Insight

GERAKAN has not left Barisan Nasional until it submits official documents to the coalition, acting chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The Umno interim president said he will instruct BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to meet with Gerakan for the details of the party’s announcement today.

“I will review the decision made by them in depth and I have asked the BN secretary-general to contact them as we still have not received an official letter from them,” Ahmad Zahid said in a press conference today.

Gerakan’s central committee today unanimously agreed to leave the BN, party president Mah Siew Keong said in a statement issued earlier.

The party contested 11 parliament and 31 state seats in GE14 and did not win a single seat. Mah said its decision to leave BN was in line with its grassroots’ aspirations and the post-election political landscape.

This leaves BN with just Umno, MCA and MIC. Another component party, MyPPP is in a leadership with one faction saying it is still part of BN and the other opting out.

BN had already lost its component parties in Sarawak which have formed an independent coalition running the state government.

The gradual decimation of the coalition that had ruled Malaysia for six decades began after its loss of federal power in the May 9 elections.

Zahid, who is Umno vice-president taking on the duties of the president, said the remaining BN parties should work together to form a strong opposition.

“We have to have respect because there is a sharing of power. They (the remaining parties) need to be given the chance or change the area where they contest to be given a fighting chance,” said Zahid. – June 23, 2018