BARISAN Nasional (BN) component party MCA has lost its trust in Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s leadership, the latest blow to the embattled BN chairman’s political career as the coalition deals with the aftermath of its disastrous polling outcome yesterday (Nov 19).
In a statement today, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon said his party was “shocked and disappointed” over Zahid’s purported decision to postpone the BN Supreme Council meeting that was scheduled for 8pm tonight.
“At a time where the state of the country’s politics is still unstable and undetermined after the recent 15th General Elections (GE15), the need for the supreme council meeting is utterly pressing so that the latest political situation can be discussed and BN can make a decision as a bloc,” he said.
The former senator added that the MCA takes a firm position that no party has the right to represent BN to negotiate with any political party without a mandate from BN’s Supreme Council.
“The MCA also wishes to express its position that the MCA has lost confidence in the leadership of Zahid as BN chairman and (calls on him) to resign with honour so that a new leader can take over the leadership of BN to determine the direction of the party.
“At the same time, the MCA is of the opinion that the BN acting chairman should call a supreme council meeting as soon as possible,” he said.
As of press time, Zahid has not issued a statement to publicly address how BN intends to deal with the country’s current hung Parliament and who the coalition will work with to form a coalition government.
BN only managed to wrest 30 federal seats in GE15 and failed to retain control of Perlis, Perak and Pahang, which held state polls concurrently with federal polls yesterday.
In terms of party performance, UMNO only won 26 seats (compared to Bersatu’s 28 and PAS’ 44) while MCA got 2, and MIC and PBRS one each. None of the other smaller BN parties won any seats.
So far, UMNO information chief Shahril Hamdan and Selangor UMNO chief Tan Sri Noh Omar have resigned from their respective positions and called for Zahid, who is also UMNO president, to take collective responsibility for BN’s GE15 loss and step down – calls which Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin have also made.
An UMNO Supreme Council Meeting that was scheduled for 3pm today has also been postponed, supreme council member Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin confirmed with Malaysiakini.
In a statement late last night, Zahid said BN accepts and respects the mandate of the people in GE15, adding that the coalition considers the results of the polls as a “major signal”.
“However, BN is committed to continuing to give support in ensuring a stable government can be formed,” he said. “We are ready to put aside our past sentiments.”
He was likely referring to BN’s public infighting with its former partner-in-government-turned-enemy Perikatan Nasional (PN), indicating that BN is open to working once again with PN (which comprises PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan).
Zahid also indicated working with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the kingmaker for GE15, by saying BN is always committed to ensuring a good relationship between West and East Malaysia. – Nov 20, 2022
