MELAKA: Differences in political direction among parties in the unity government at state level do not mean Barisan Nasional does not support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership at federal level.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said each party in the unity government had the right to determine its own direction at state level, particularly during elections.
He said this included the positions taken by parties in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka, where political differences had emerged among members of the unity government.
“Yes, we are not on the same path because every party in the unity government has the right to determine its own direction at state level, especially during elections.
“This does not mean we do not support the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar, whom we hold in high regard, at federal level,” he told reporters after the Melaka 2026 Village Development and Security Committee Engagement Session here.
He was responding to a challenge by DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo, who called on him to resign if he no longer had confidence in the current government’s leadership.
Zahid said BN’s support for the prime minister was evident as none of the party’s ministers had ever expressed disagreement with the unity government’s policies during cabinet meetings.
“This is even clearer because, during cabinet meetings, not once have BN ministers disagreed with the unity government’s policies or expressed differences of opinion with the prime minister.
“Those who no longer hold positions should not question the political positions taken by others. Instead, they should accept the decisions and respective directions of their parties,” said the deputy prime minister.
He was responding to criticism from those who had questioned the political positions taken by parties in the unity government.
“If they feel that what they have said should be done, then they should do what their party’s secretary-general has done,” he said.
Tensions among leaders of parties aligned with the unity government have intensified in recent days over the issues surrounding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke on Tuesday announced that he had resigned as transport minister with immediate effect following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Later that night, Loke challenged BN ministers to resign from the cabinet instead of continuing to criticise Anwar and the unity government while remaining in office.
DAP and BN leaders continue to exchange criticism during campaign appearances in support of candidates contesting the Melaka election, with calls for each other’s resignations and for their parties to be removed from the federal government.
DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng called on Anwar to remove Umno from the unity government if the party refused to withdraw, following what DAP claimed were attempts to sabotage the government for political gain.
He said Umno’s tendency to issue contradictory statements based on its political interests reflected an inconsistent approach to addressing various issues.
At a separate ceramah, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan challenged all DAP ministers to resign and leave the government if the move was genuinely based on principle, rather than involving only one party leader.
He said the resignation of just one minister was insufficient to demonstrate DAP’s position if other party leaders remained in the government.
At another ceramah, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh should also resign if DAP was genuinely standing by its principles, rather than having only Loke step down.
Tuan Ibrahim said the resignation should not involve only one DAP leader if the party had taken a clear stand against a decision or policy concerning the implementation of house arrest for Najib.