BARISAN Nasional leaders are daydreaming if they think they can form a unity government with Pakatan Harapan parties, said Bersatu chairman and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Whereas Umno leaders who intend to join Bersatu will not be allowed to hold any posts in the party until after the 15th general election, Dr Mahathir said.

“The Malays are now rudderless. Their party has lost power and is disintegrating to the point where it effectively does not exist. Their leaders are fighting among themselves. Some are leaving Umno and some are trying to revive it,” Dr Mahathir said in his policy speech at the opening of the party’s annual general assembly.

“There are some leaders who think they are still a political party that can work with other parties to get enough numbers to form a unity government. There are some leaders who believe they can lead this unity government.

“All these dreams have failed. It is daydreaming, dreaming of something that has no basis and will not happen,” he said.

It was revealed two weeks ago that Barisan Nasional secretary-general Nazri Aziz had attempted to persuade Umno members to accept the idea of the party working together with PKR and DAP in a unity government.

Nazri had defended the idea as being necessary to ensure that Umno would not be deregistered as it would be part of the government. The majority of Umno members however have rejected such a proposal.

Dr Mahathir also addressed concerns about former Umno members and leaders who have applied to join Bersatu, saying they will be subjected to strict conditions.

“We don’t easily accept them. There are conditions. They must leave Umno, they must be independent and they must sincerely support Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu. We don’t accept them in groups only as individuals.

“If they are accepted they cannot hold any posts until the 15th general election. Yes, this is long, but the test of sincerity cannot be rushed.” – December 29, 2018