KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Two coalitions and four parties have agreed today to officially be part of Perikatan Nasional (PN), formerly an ad hoc arrangement to form a federal government.
The decision was announced in a joint statement by coalitions Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
BN is formed of Umno, MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, while GPS include Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party.
However, the statement does not state whether the six will work towards making PN an official political entity.
Last week, BN secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said there is no need to rush into registering PN as a political entity for the time being, as the move needed to get the support of party members at every level, and not just the top leadership.
Bersatu, Umno and PAS formed the PN federal government after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decided that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin likely holds the command of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat in March.
GPS was then invited to join the PN government. Together with MCA, MIC and a faction who left PKR led by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, the pact claims majority in the Lower House.
Bersatu’s inclusion in PN was preceded by its withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan, which effectively became the Opposition bloc with its remaining parties PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister.
