Suspended Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee says he is not surprised by the party’s plan to sign a cooperation pact with the Pakatan Harapan-led government in Selangor, claiming the current leadership has long wanted to work with PH.
The Beluran MP said negotiations over the proposed pact had made the leadership’s intentions clearer, suggesting that internal opposition from figures such as himself may have previously prevented the move from being made more openly.
“Maybe it has been their intention all this while, and it is just coming out now. The fact is, there are some of us here they don’t like because of differences in our political stance.
“So now it is obvious that, all this while, they have been wanting to associate with PH,” he told FMT when met in Parliament after the tabling of Budget 2027 yesterday.
Kiandee said the pact had probably been in the works for some time, adding that former PKR leaders in Bersatu, including Azmin Ali, Hilman Idham and Afif Bahardin, could have played a role.
Selangor pact amid political tensions
On Thursday, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said Bersatu assemblymen would sign a pact with the state government before the state budget was tabled, with the terms still being finalised.
The announcement came amid rising tensions between PH and Barisan Nasional, key partners in both the federal and Selangor governments.
Bersatu has also fallen out with PAS, which currently chairs the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
The 56-member Selangor assembly comprises 32 representatives from PH, 11 from Bersatu, 10 from PAS, two from BN and one independent.
PAS says political alliances can change
Meanwhile, PAS’s Pendang MP Awang Hashim played down tensions between BN and PH, as well as the planned PH-Bersatu pact, saying political allies could become opponents and vice versa.
He said Bersatu’s potential cooperation with PH in Selangor was the party’s own decision, despite its membership in PN.
“This is normal. In politics, friends can become enemies, and tomorrow, enemies may become friends. That is natural in politics.
“It would not be a surprise if Bersatu were to work with PH in Selangor. That is their right, as they have now decided not to be with PN,” said Awang, a two-term MP.
However, he said the fallout could affect the image of Bersatu’s coalition partners, adding that PAS had not anticipated the internal conflict and had avoided becoming involved in it.
“Whatever happens, it will also reflect badly on the image of the coalition’s other partners.
“These are your (Bersatu’s) internal problems, but we cannot escape the consequences.”
Bersatu leadership tussle spills into PN
Bersatu’s internal friction stemmed from an intense leadership tussle between party president Muhyiddin Yassin and then deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, who was expelled in February.
Hamzah, the opposition leader, now heads Wawasan, which includes several former Bersatu MPs and assemblymen.
“We did not interfere, but were dragged into this situation and forced to make our own decisions,” Awang said.
