THERE is no issue of Umno joining or leaving Perikatan Nasional (PN) because the coalition is not registered, said Annuar Musa. 

The Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general said Umno cannot leave PN because it never entered the coalition.

“What was meant by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Umno president) is that Muafakat Nasional (MN) was officially established by Umno and PAS and should remain as a major platform.

“Another option is for Bersatu to join MN. It’s not about Umno joining or pulling out from PN,” he told reporters after a site visit to Taman Rimba Kiara today. 

Annuar said if they are a registered member of PN then it’s a different matter, but Umno has not  joined any coalition besides MN and BN. 

Earlier, Zahid said Umno will not be a part of PN despite forming government with Bersatu and PKR defectors.

Instead, he said the party will work to strengthen MN, Umno’s pact with PAS, which Bersatu wants to join. 

He also said even if PN was registered as an official bloc, Umno and its fellow BN component members would not be in it.

Annuar said they have also extended an official invite to Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, on joining MN. 

“I have met him (Muhyiddin), Umno president (Zahid) and the PAS president (Abdul Hadi Awang), and we have discussed it. 

“We must continue to engage on where we stand.”

Zahid had said Muhyiddin was in a meeting yesterday with BN lawmakers and had stated Bersatu’s intention of joining Umno and PAS.

He added that it will be up to the MN central committee to consider it.

“I will leave it to the central committee to consider Bersatu’s intention of joining MN if it strengthens the alliance for the sake of the people and country.”

PAS will also decide if Bersatu gets to join MN, said Zahid.

“Bersatu’s intention will be discussed with PAS.” – July 30, 2020.