BAGAN DATUK: Barisan Nasional (BN) is open to collaborating with any party or coalition, not only with Pakatan Harapan (PH), should the party fail to form a majority government after the 15th General Election (GE15).
"Why must we work only with him (Anwar)? We can also work with other political leaders," said the BN chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The incumbent Bagan Datuk member of parliament told this to reporters at his home in Sungai Nipah Darat here when asked if BN would work together with the PKR president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after GE15.
"Our approach is to create political stability in our country. We should work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and another party, as well as other coalitions.
"Let's cross the bridge on the 19th (the polling day), then we discuss whether we can form the government on our own or we need to work with other coalitions," he said.
On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid did not rule out the possibility of working with other coalitions if it fails to form a majority government after the GE15.
He had said BN was ready for "whatever method" as long as it could form a politically-stable government.
On claims that he has never criticised Anwar and vice-versa, Ahmad Zahidi said, one should never criticise each other as it portrays the party.
"When we criticise each other it portrays our party. We should tell our voters what we are going to do if we were chosen by the voters to form the new government.
"Criticism or humiliation should never be allowed. I don't say bad things to others and those who betrayed (the party). I have never said a word.
"Don't single out any characters in this matter. Embrace mature politics and never paint a bad picture of other candidates," he said.