KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 ― The Barisan Nasional (BN) will have to reconsider its original position to stay neutral in the ongoing post-electoral stalemate on which coalition is to form the federal government, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said today.

The Sabah component noted its BN partner Umno has reversed its stand and now backs the palace’s proposal for a unity government, with the caveat that the new administration is not led by archrivals Perikatan Nasional (PN).

"BN Supreme Council has never officially supported or opposed any side yet. The last BN Supreme Council decision was for BN to remain neutral and as opposition. That has not been changed.

"But because the palace wants all of us to work together to form a stable and united government for Malaysia we will need to reconsider our position so that our country can form a stable government. We cannot leave this hanging and we must do what is best for our people and country.

"But whatever decision it is, it must be done through proper channels and properly endorsed as a BN decision because all our mandates are as BN MPs,” he said in a statement.

The Umno supreme council had issued a statement just after midnight on the conditional agreement for a unity government for the sake of Malaysia’s stability.

The BN comprises four parties ― Umno, PBRS, MCA, and MIC. The coalition only won 30 seats out of 222 in the Dewan Rakyat.

The BN supreme council is scheduled to hold a meeting today.

PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has rejected the idea of a unity government with Pakatan Harapan, the coalition that won the most seats at 82.

Muhyiddin told reporters that its principle was not to work in a government with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or DAP in it.

He also claimed to have the sworn support of 115 MPs for PN to control Putrajaya. Officially, PN only won 73 seats in the election.