KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that the Unity Government remains firmly intact despite growing tensions between its Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) partners during the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign.
Anwar shared a pantun on his social media platforms accompanied by photographs of himself with Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in what appeared to be a message underscoring cooperation and unity among government partners.
The post came amid heightened rhetoric between PH and BN, following disagreements over campaign strategies and BN’s recent announcement of an “arrangement” with PAS on seat contests in Negeri Sembilan — a move that raised questions over the cohesion of the coalition government.
The pantun, which touches on ‘different steps, same friendship’, read:
“Burung merbah terbang sekawan,
Guruh berdentum membelah awan;
Berbeza langkah, jangan putus kawan,
Selagi muafakat, kita sehaluan.”
The post, tagged with #YakinMADANI, showed Anwar and Cabinet members in a cordial setting despite the political contest at state level and came shortly after BN secured a landslide victory in the Johor state election.
Yesterday, Zahid said the prime minister had the authority to remove him and other BN ministers if he was dissatisfied with their performance.
However, the BN chairman said he saw no reason for the coalition’s eight full ministers and seven deputy ministers to resign following Anwar’s warning that government office holders who attacked their partners during state election campaigning should step down.
“Eight BN ministers are serving as full ministers and seven as deputy ministers. This proves that we are a party with strong administrative experience,” he said.
“That is why we are performing highly. We did not mention other ministries or other ministers from other parties. We only spoke about ourselves.”
He was speaking at the Deputy Prime Minister’s address to KEMAS staff in Negeri Sembilan at the KEMAS Community Activity Centre in Kampung Pantai, Seremban recently.
Zahid was responding to Anwar’s recent warning that ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government agencies must not use their positions to attack fellow Unity Government partners while campaigning in the Negeri Sembilan state polls.
Anwar had said those involved would be asked to resign from their posts.
“But as I said earlier, there is no need to ask us to resign because the person who appointed these ministers is the Prime Minister,” Zahid said.
“If he does not like it, just sack us. But surely he would not have the heart to sack us, as we are all working hard and have achieved enough success.
“What I mentioned earlier was what was expressed by the blue colour (BN). It is his (the Prime Minister’s) authority. This is an election campaign; in Putrajaya (the Federal Government) we do not interfere. This is a state-level election.”
Negeri Sembilan PH chairman Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, meanwhile, described Zahid’s remarks challenging Anwar to dismiss BN ministers as inappropriate, saying they appeared to question the prime minister’s authority.
“If that was indeed what he (Zahid) said, I believe it was a challenge.
“I do not think it was appropriate for (such a statement) to be made by a friend and close ally of the prime minister,” he was quoted as saying.
Aminuddin said Anwar’s warning was intended as a reminder for all parties to preserve ties within the Unity Government, adding that the issue was not about dismissals but about respecting the spirit of cooperation.
He also warned that unresolved tensions between PH and BN in Negeri Sembilan could potentially spill over into the federal administration.
On Sunday, Anwar cautioned ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government agencies against using their positions to attack fellow coalition partners during state election campaigns, saying those who did so should be prepared to relinquish their posts.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan later said he was prepared to step down from the Cabinet if instructed by the prime minister. – July 22, 2026