KUALA LUMPUR — The United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki on Wednesday (Nov 23) denounced the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition for its alleged attempts to “steal” Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers in its covert bid to form the next federal government.

He compared this to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that was also in the running to be the next federal government, which he said negotiated transparently and respectfully with BN’s top seven leaders, including laying out the conditions and expectations of their partnership.

“Two days ago, the PH leadership attended a meeting with the BN leadership at the Seri Pacific Hotel to present their terms and offers if BN agreed to form a unity government with them. The PH leadership is more ‘gentleman’ and civilised by holding an official meeting with seven from BN’s leadership to express their desire to cooperate with the BN leadership.

“Meanwhile, PN is with its old habit in trying to do ‘dealings’ silently and steal 10 members of parliament to sign the statutory declarations (SD) supporting Muhyiddin (Yassin) as prime minister,” Mr Asyraf said.

He added that this was why the meeting with PN initially scheduled for two days ago had to be repeatedly postponed until Wednesday.

Mr Asyraf alleged that PN only agreed to finally meet with BN on Wednesday afternoon after the latter’s supreme council ordered that the 10 SDs signed by the coalition’s MPs be rescinded.

“That was after they were told to face the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday and were officially informed that Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) did not have enough SDs to support him already,” he said.

Mr Asyraf said that the BN Supreme Council will tonight assess the offers from PH and PN, while abiding by the Agong’s decree for the parties to try and work towards a unity government.

“The question, however, is why was PN that haughty and arrogant in rejecting the advice of His Majesty for a unity government?” he said

Mr Asyraf also explained that the meeting at the St Regis Kuala Lumpur between the BN and PN leadership is in line with the BN Supreme Council’s stand to be open to meet and negotiate with both the coalitions on the formation of a unity government.

Earlier on Wednesday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Agong has requested for his coalition to be part of a unity government.

According to online news portal Malaysiakini, he said that this was conveyed to him during the Agong’s meeting earlier that day with BN representatives, including the coalition’s deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan and secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Mr Ahmad Zahid led a three-man team from BN to Istana Negara for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as Malaysia’s post-election political impasse continues.

The Agong had also granted an audience with several members from Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

The Umno supreme council will also be meeting on Wednesday night at its party headquarters at the World Trade Centre, as Malaysia continues to wait for news of its 10th prime minister.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8pm and will be chaired by Mr Ahmad Zahid, who is facing growing calls from his party members to resign, after leading the coalition into its worst election performance in history. MALAY MAIL