KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — A Barisan Nasional (BN) leader asserted that a new coalition involving major Opposition parties along with Bersatu and a rogue PKR faction could achieve the simple majority needed to become the government.

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan told reporters at the Umno headquarters here that the new coalition’s leaders would be seeking an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong soon.

"The situation is very assuring. In the nearest time, we will be seeking an audience with His Majesty. BN has the strength.

"BN always had the numbers,” Saravanan said without providing other details.

Umno leaders were still in a meeting at the time.

However, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said told reporters later that there was no order yet from party leaders to meet at Istana Negara tomorrow.

"If there is an order from the party, we will go. If the party does not give an order, we shall sit quietly,” he said.

When pressed to say if his party has the numbers to stake a claim on the federal government, he referred such questions to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Other Umno leaders including former Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, former agriculture and agro-based industries minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also would not answer the same question.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is seen leaving PWTC after the Umno-PAS meeting February 24, 2020. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

Former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak also chose not to address the question but appeared jovial.

The media did not have a chance to speak to Ahmad Zahid as he left soon after the meeting.