Malaysia’s BN Says It Will Quit Coalition at Next Election: NST

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his Barisan Nasional party will leave the ruling coalition once parliament is dissolved at the next election, the New Straits Times reported.

“The moment Parliament is dissolved, we are no longer with them,” the BN chairman was quoted as saying, signaling continued tensions within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.

Zahid, who is also the United Malays National Organisation president, said their collaboration with Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan doesn’t mean BN has surrendered its identity.

He said the party joined Anwar’s government as part of a promise to the previous King Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, adding that it will remain in the administration until parliament is dissolved. Malaysia must hold its next general election by early 2028.

Zahid, however, said his party is free to decide which parties it wants to work with during state elections.

In recent state elections, BN contested Johor on its own and teamed up with opposition Perikatan Nasional in Negeri Sembilan polls to win both states.