SHAH ALAM: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are not as bad as some quarters have claimed, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said negative perceptions of him and BN do not reflect the truth.
"The proof is that we, Umno and BN, decided to support (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form the unity government.
"Now that they know me, there is no more negative perception. We in Umno and BN are not as bad as how others paint us to be.
"We hold tight to the principle that this country must be stable. Its politics must be stable for the sake of economic development and the wellbeing of the people.
"Therefore, to move forward, we must ensure there is food on the table, money in our pockets and a roof over our heads. These three things are important to the government," he said in a speech at a meet-the-people session organised by the Sree Maha Kaliamman Temple devotees association here today.
Zahid, who is BN chairman and Umno president, said without BN's and Umno's cooperation, the current government could not have been formed.
"BN had the fewest seats in the general election. This is the first time in history this has happened.
"But the 30 seats we have proved to be vital to the formation of the government. Without our 30 seats, 82 seats (from Pakatan Harapan) would not be enough to form the government.
"We are not being arrogant or proud. It is Allah's will that 82 plus 30 equals the simple majority needed in the Dewan Rakyat, which is 112 seats.
"With the cooperation of our friends from Sabah and Sarawak, we have 148 seats, which is a two-thirds majority in the Lower House."
