THE Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government was formed with Barisan Nasional (BN), not with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said.

“Everyone in DAP understands that principle. This is a unity government with BN.

“The decision was made with consequences. If we did not form the government (with BN), the alternative would be that other parties will form the government,” he said at the DAP headquarters today.

Loke was commenting on whether DAP’s central executive committee and members agree that the unity government is formed with Zahid in the cabinet.

Zahid has 47 corruption and money laundering charges to answer for, even though he was acquitted of 40 bribery charges in September.

The BN chairman was named as one of two deputy prime ministers in Anwar’s cabinet.

Zahid was also given the post of rural and regional development minister.

Loke said Zahid’s case depends on the court process, which is ongoing.

“We in the cabinet are focusing on the country’s agenda and for the people. That’s our stand.

“We are not discussing the agenda of each and everyone’s cases. We will not touch or discuss individual cases.”

He added that the unity government is new, so they all have to learn to work together.

“This is a joint effort. We will serve the country to the best of our ability,” said the new transport minister.

At the general election, Pakatan Harapan won 82 seats and was unable to form a government on its own.

Anwar had to combine his coalition with BN, which had won 30 seats to form a unity government with the support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) 23 seats. This would make a total of 135 seats.

Other smaller parties had then joined the unity government.

“It is made of four coalitions, which are Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, GPS, GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) and other parties such Warisan and Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

“In the context of a unity government, when we combine to form the government, there are certain principles we have to follow.”

He said, for example, it is the respective coalition’s decision on who should be in the cabinet.

“So, that discussion is between the coalitions and the prime minister.

“If we do not honour that principle then we wouldn’t be able to form a government.” – December 3, 2022.