Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Newly-minted Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has hinted that the new opposition coalition will take on a new name as the name 'Barisan Nasional' is no longer relevant in Malaysia.

"In reality, there is no more Barisan Nasional. There is no more [BN] in Sabah, there is no more [BN] in Sarawak. I mean, face the facts," he told reporters at the parliament lobby today.

"[We] cannot use Barisan Nasional anymore," he added.

Nazri was referring to former Barisan Nasional coalition members that have formed their own coalitions — Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) — in Sabah and Sarawak respectively.

"The fact is, like in Sabah, we have allowed the Umno there to join with their allies to form GBS. So that has happened, it is a reality. And it is similar in Sarawak," he added.

On Saturday, Nazri confirmed he was appointed as the new BN secretary-general to take on the responsibility to rebrand and restructure the coalition, as suggested by its chairman Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid reportedly said the new BN will include five core parties, bloc partners and other NGOs.

Nazri added that he is in the midst of setting up a meeting with PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan to discuss about the possible coalition. On MCA, he said he will only engage the party after the party's polls next month.

"[For] MCA, we wait for their [party] election, because even if we talk now, if Gan Ping Sieu wins, he already said he wants to get out of BN. Wee [Ka Siong] said he will leave the decision to the delegations. So there is no point talking right now," he added.

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