Coalition of three Malay parties needed to win GE15 a hypothesis, Zahid says

KUALA LUMPUR - The statement made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who claims the combination of the three largest Malay parties, namely Bersatu, Pas and Umno can lead to its winning in the 15th General Election (GE15) is only a hypothesis and an illusion.

Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party had offered a good resolution to the two parties.

"We once offered 'olive branch' to both of them.

"But our hand was not only bitten, but it was also up to the point that almost breaks the hand," he said during the press conference after officiating the Barisan Nasional (BN) Puteri Convention at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Center (WTCKL).

Zahid’s comment came after Muhyiddin’s statement which said the combination of the three largest Malay parties, Bersatu, PAS and Umno would lead them to a comfortable win if Muafakat Nasional (MN) became a reality.

However, Muhyiddin who was also the President of Bersatu said the establishment of MN at the moment seems unclear due to Umno's rejection even though the invitation to join the coalition was made by Ahmad Zahid and Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Zahid added Umno had built its strength solo.

Asked if Umno was ready to merge with other parties after GE15, Zahid said that politics were very dynamic.

He said the efforts on the coalition were better to be put into motion post- GE15 period.

"If we do it now, everyone will say that they are strong, even though we don't know that their inner political energy has decreased.

"Umno and BN will prove it in the next GE and after that we will look for a formula (on merging with other parties)," he said.