UMNO is not in talks with any party to join Barisan Nasional (BN), party vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said as the nationalist Malay party seeks to regroup after its mauling in the 14th general election. 

“So far, there are no negotiations yet. If there are, we will have to discuss it en bloc.

“We want Umno to rise again with its partners in BN. Hishammuddin (Hussein) and I have been entrusted by the party’s supreme council to ensure that BN closes ranks and recovers from this,” Zahid, who is taking on the duties of the party president, said at a press conference after chairing a Supreme Council meeting at PWTC today.

Hishammuddin, also a party vice-president, is taking on the duties of the deputy president following Najib Razak’s resignation as Umno president and chairman of BN,

Zahid also denied rumours that he had met PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in hospital last night, ahead of the latter’s expected release from prison tomorrow on a royal pardon.

“At the time I was said to be meeting Anwar, I was actually performing prayers,” the former deputy prime minister said.

Umno won only 54 parliamentary seats in GE14, a stunning reversal of fortunes for BN’s lynchpin party. – May 14, 2018.