THE Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council has decided not to support Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the race to form the next federal government, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

In a tweet, the Umno vice-president said that BN will sit in opposition.

The tweet comes at the end of a two-hour meeting that BN had with its 30 lawmakers.

MIC deputy president M. Saravanan confirmed the tweet as he left the World Trade Center where the meeting was held.

“We agreed to stay out and remain in opposition. We are not joining anyone,” he said.

In a statement, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the public’s rejection of BN was a healthy demonstration of democracy and BN respected the people’s wishes.

“In the absence of the people’s mandate, BN has lost favour to form the government. Therefore, MCA is prepared to perform our role as the opposition, to provide checks and balances.

“MCA will always remain steadfast in prioritising the people’s interest, whether as government or opposition.”

He said no government could be secure for long without a formidable opposition.

The Agong had given PN, PH, and BN time to submit proof of the support they commanded in parliament and their choice for prime minister.

On Saturday, PH won 82 parliamentary seats, followed by PN with 73 and BN with 30.

This resulted in a hung parliament as neither coalition achieved the simple majority of 112 seats to form a new federal government.  – November 22, 2022.