BN and Umno open to talks on formation on govt or opposition (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno is open to hold negotiations with any quarters on the possibility of forming any form of government or opposition, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
While no negotiations have taken place yet, the BN acting president said should there be one, they would be done en bloc with all party members and component parties.
"Umno supreme council members have given me the mandate to hold negotiations (with any quarters), and on what steps to be taken by the party next.
"And we will use our strength to hold these negotiations with anyone on forming a government or opposition of any form," he told reporters after chairing the supreme council meeting, here, today.
"So far, there are no negotiations yet. And if there is a negotiation to be taken place, we will discuss it en bloc," he added.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president who performs the duty of the president, said Umno and BN should also consolidate its strength to ensure that the party would provide a viable option should any talks of a collaboration take place.
"Although Pakatan Harapan (PH) is the government today, our party has the most MPs in parliament, a total of 54.
"We know the problems that they are facing. And I feel that we should consolidate so that any collaboration or negotiation would be of the best interest of Umno and BN," he said.
The former deputy prime minister also called on all Umno members to concede that they were no longer the government of the day and that they were meant to face difficulties as an opposition.
On the two Perak assemblymen whose support for PH enabled the coalition to form the state government there, Ahmad Zahid said their Umno membership has been ceased with immediate effect.
The two assemblymen, believed to be Sungai Manik's Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin and Tualang Sekah's Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi, were reported to have said that they only declared support for PH in the interest of the Perak people, but that they remained an Umno member and supporter.
"No rule says that such action is acceptable. So I'm announcing now that they cease to be a member of Umno automatically," Ahmad Zahid said.
He also stressed that none of the Sarawak and Sabah MPs have crossed over to join PH, bar one, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau from BN component party UPKO.