KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied making unilateral decisions for Barisan Nasional to join the unity government, headed by Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Umno's Supreme Council had agreed to back Anwar as the Prime Minister, instead of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Zahid, who is also Umno president, explained that his party had held separate discussions with both PH and PN two days after the 15th General Election.
"During the consultations, we have laid down several foundations, including the issue of Islam, Malays and Bumiputera, the royal institution, and the Malay language which we must agree upon, as well as the formation of the cabinet.
"In fact in our suggestions, we had said that the government that would be formed cannot be identified with a name of a party, but must be known as a unity government.
"PH in its written response had expressed their agreement, while PN only said they were ready to consider the points we brought forward."
He said PN then rejected Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's suggestion to form a unity government, as its chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had claimed to have the majority, which included the 10 members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional.
"They signed a statutory declaration (SD) without referring to the party. It is not a decision made by the party.
"This is also a factor as to why we cannot be with PN. Even before daybreak, treason was done to our party.
"What's even more saddening is that it was done by our own people. It is because of this that we have discussed and agreed to form a government with PH and our friends from Sabah and Sarawak," he added.