SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today confirmed that it was not only Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim who invited the coalition to join the opposition in forming a new federal government.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said the matter, however, was no secret and had been conveyed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"If I share this with the public, it would no longer be a secret. Hence, let it be that it is only discussed with certain leaders.
"I have also informed the prime minister (Anwar) in detail for us to ensure that the same mistake does not happen (supaya pisang tidak berbuah dua kali).
"Shahidan is not the only one whom I met to discuss the matter (on PN inviting BN to join the coalition to form the federal government)," he told a press conference after the Selangor BN Convention today.
Zahid said this when asked to comment about the revelation made by Shahidan that the latter had openly invited BN to join PN in forming a new federal government.
Last week, Shahidan, who is Arau member of parliament, admitted that he had openly "invited" BN to join PN in forming a new federal government.
Shahidan said his actions were no longer secret as he had publicly discussed the matter several times during his speeches at political events.
He, however, denied ever having a face-to-face meeting with Zahid.
Zahid previously dropped a bombshell, revealing attempts by the opposition to entice BN to withdraw from the unity government and form a new one with PN, with an offer of the prime minister's post in exchange.
The deputy prime minister, however, did not reveal who made the offer.