The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is “shaky” and defections could cause the coalition to fall before the next general election, Umno acting president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said.
The former deputy prime minister was also quoted as saying that he would work towards ensuring that the defections happen, while boasting that Umno would stand to benefit from a split PH, Malaysiakini reported.
“I will do what is best for Umno so we can form a government again,” he said during a Hari Raya event organised by the Federal Territories Umno today.
“The formation of the government need not wait until the next general election. InshaAllah (God’s willing), the other side (Harapan government) will be shaky, splitting here and there.
“Anyone who breaks off (with Harapan) will come to Umno, the biggest party with the most number of lawmakers.”
Zahid also said he had friendly ties with almost everyone.
“I’m good with the one who just got out,” he said, in an apparent reference to PKR de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was released from jail last month.
“I have good ties with the ones in Sabah and Sarawak and even with the one formerly from Penang. Only with those from Amanah, I’m less friendly with,” he said.
Zahid had previously said that the Sarawak BN parties had left the BN coalition with his blessing and that they will all work together one day.
He also claimed to have a good relationship with Parti Warisan Sabah’s Shafie Apdal.
Zahid, who took over as acting president after Datuk Seri Najib Razak vacated the post, is among the main contenders for the top post in the coming party polls.
He has vowed to rebuild the party after it suffered a shock defeat at the May 9 elections.
He had recently claimed that voter sentiment has shifted against PH just weeks after it took federal power, citing alleged discontent at the new government’s failure to make the prices of basic goods drop.
“They want to implement the zero-rating Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said in some states, the prices have dropped 30 percent to 50 percent,” he said.
“The prices either went up or remained the same.”
He claimed that many people, particularly government contract staff, came to him and expressed regret for voting PH.
He added that some even told him that Umno and BN were the only ruling coalition that was able to take care of the people.
“But, it is too late, this is not changing clothes, this is changing the government.”
Zahid also criticised PH ministers for making inconsistent statements and cited the Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran who initially spoke about banning foreign cooks but “later said it was still at the proposal stage”.
“If you don’t know how to become the government, give it to Umno. We can be a better government,” he said.