“Fact-check before accusing BN without proper scrutiny” – Mohd Asna

SHAH ALAM – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) decision to join the Unity Government after the general election was not driven by any individual, but was made in response to the directive of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong following a hung Parliament.

Lenggeng State Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Asna Amin said that in the 15th General Election (GE15), BN won only 30 parliamentary seats and was prepared to sit in opposition. However, as no party secured a simple majority to form the government, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the time decreed the formation of a Unity Government to ensure national stability.

He explained that out of 20 political parties represented in Parliament, 18 agreed to heed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s directive, while only two parties — PAS and Bersatu — rejected participation in the Unity Government.

“The participation of UMNO and BN in the Unity Government together with Pakatan Harapan (PH), including DAP, was in the interest of the nation and based on the principles of the Federal Constitution, not a betrayal of party principles,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mohd Asna was responding to remarks by MIC Youth chief K Arvind, who had mocked BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as being ‘drunk on power’.

Elaborating further, Mohd Asna acknowledged that the slogan ‘No DAP, No Anwar, No Bersatu’ was BN’s stance prior to GE15, and that it was honoured when BN contested the election independently without cooperating with any other party.

“DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke himself has stated the commitment of DAP’s new leadership to uphold Islam as the religion of the Federation, the position of the Malays, the Malay language as the national language, and the institution of the Malay Rulers,” he said.

The Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker also drew a comparison with the formation of the Sabah state government, when Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) failed to obtain a simple majority and BN joined the state government to ensure administrative stability.

“The principle is the same — a stable government requires a comfortable majority to pass legislation and implement policies without prolonged political disruption,” he said.

Mohd Asna also questioned the stance of MIC Youth, which he claimed had frequently manipulated statements made by the BN chairman, including on the ‘No Bersatu’ position, which he said remains consistent to this day.

“MIC should instead focus on rebuilding the party, strengthening its organisation and engaging with the grassroots, rather than attacking partners within the BN component or insulting its own leadership,” he said.

According to him, discourteous actions towards the BN chairman could undermine harmony within the coalition and should be dealt with firmly to preserve unity within the party.