Reject independent reps, Zahid tells BN

Applications from independent elected representatives to join any Barisan Nasional (BN) component party should be rejected, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said instead he agreed with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan that these representatives become BN associates. "I understand why Pairin says that independent representatives who opposed BN officially (via general elections), should not be accepted by BN component parties. "I know our (BN) feelings have been hurt and it cuts deep. I will whisper to the BN president (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) not to accept (applications from independent elected representatives)," he said when launching PBS's 30th Annual Delegates Conference in Kota Kinabalu today. Zahid, who is also home minister, said the matter would be presented at the coming BN and Umno meetings and he would support it. He also expressed confidence that the current number and ratio of BN representatives from Sabah and Sarawak in the Cabinet would be retained to ensure the spirit of togetherness remained in the government's administration. In the political history of Malaysian leadership, the highest number of Sabah and Sarawak representatives in the Cabinet was during Najib's leadership, he said. Zahid also reminded BN component parties to always hold private discussions and not use ocial media as a platform to voice their differences in opinion. – Bernama, November 14, 2015.]]>