KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16): Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said any parties that wished to cooperate with Barisan Nasional (BN) can negotiate with the coalition after the outcome of the 15th general election (GE15).

“We have to wait until after the election. After a decision is made and there is a suggestion to collaborate then we will bring this to the (Umno) Supreme Council level," he said in response to reporters' question on whether Umno-led BN would accept PAS as a partner.

“Any collaboration with any parties must be decided by the council,” he said at a meet-and-greet session at the Sri Perlis Flats in Keramat on Tuesday (Nov 15) night, together with BN's candidate for Titiwangsa Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

According to Ismail Sabri, PAS should consider joining another coalition since the party currently did not seem to enjoy the right to voice its views in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

“I was told that the Bersatu president was not satisfied with the statement made by PAS. PAS is a big party and it was formed earlier than Bersatu, so PAS should be dominant and have its own power because as a component they should have a say in the PN coalition.

“But, when PAS wants to voice its view, it always gets criticised by the (PN) president. So if that is the way things go, it is better for PAS to collaborate with different parties,” he added.

On Tuesday, PAS secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said PN may work with BN to form the government after GE15. Bersatu president and PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin was subsequently reported to have said that Takiyuddin did not have the mandate to negotiate with BN on the formation of government.

In his speech at the Titiwangsa constituency on Tuesday, Ismail Sabri hinted that Johari could be part of the Cabinet if BN wins the election.

“It is a loss to the Cabinet without him. He has a strong economic background,” he said.

Johari was appointed as Finance Minister II in 2016. He has been in politics since 1998 and made his biggest political move when he contested for, and won, the Titiwangsa seat in 2013. However, he lost the seat in 2018 to caretaker Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

For GE15, Johari is back in his stomping ground in a four-cornered fight against Pakatan Harapan’s Khalid Abdul Samad, Gerakan Tanah Air’s Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and PAS candidate Dr Rosni Adam.

Johari stressed that Ismail Sabri would be the prime minister candidate if BN wins Saturday's election.

“There is a rumour that if we vote for Johari Ghani, we will get [Datuk Seri Ahmad] Zahid Hamidi as the PM. This is not true. We (Umno) Supreme Council had unanimously agreed that Ismail Sabri will be the prime minister if BN wins GE15.

“This decision was made before the parliament dissolution,” he said during his speech on Tuesday.

Johari also shared his plan to rebuild Keramat as the area is ripe for development and that the locals could benefit from it.

“The residential flats here are almost 45 years old. The units are small and I see a huge potential to build better homes for people in this area due to its proximity to the KL city centre and the LRT station.

“More people can live here too. But, the first priority will be given to the people of Keramat and their families, because they have been here for a long time,” he said.

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