Hard for BN to backstab if it quits govt, says Puad

Former Umno leader Puad Zarkashi has criticized the apparent camaraderie between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders within the Cabinet, describing it as a "Hollywood act." In a statement on Facebook, Puad dismissed the claim by Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan that BN has not withdrawn from the federal government to maintain stability, calling it hypocritical.

Puad argued that BN's continued partnership with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in state elections, particularly in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, demonstrates their intention to backstab their partners. He highlighted the numerous attacks on the federal government during the state polls, suggesting these were orchestrated by BN. Puad further stated that the warmth between BN and PH leaders in the Cabinet is merely for show; BN will continue to backstab during the Melaka state election and the upcoming 16th general election.

The former Rengit assemblyman, who quit Umno in June, attributed their reluctance to step down from the government to the fact that without power, it becomes challenging to execute an effective backstab. This comes after Ahmad Maslan defended BN's state election pacts with PN, arguing that tactical moves to maximize election chances should not be viewed as betrayal.

It's important to note that BN and PH's agreement in the unity government is limited to the federal level, and there are no binding agreements on state-level arrangements.