Otherwise, the prime minister’s post should be held based on a rotation system, he told FMT.

Khaled also questioned the need for more political coalitions, following PPBM secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin’s call for PN, BN and GPS to unite under a “grand coalition” to ensure continuity of the informal consensus the parties had reached after taking over Putrajaya in February.

“How many more coalitions do we want? Coalitions exist to suck the power out of other people’s parties,” he said.

However, another Umno leader, Nazri Aziz, supported Hamzah’s suggestion to ensure victory over Pakatan Harapan in the 15th general election (GE15).

“Only BN, GPS and PN can guarantee a fair government because most of its leaders are experienced in governing,” said the Padang Rengas MP.

“We strongly support the idea. I think this is a good suggestion.

“Perhaps the former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned before this because he saw how bad the Pakatan Harapan government was.”

Nazri also said he was confident they could win by a large majority in GE15, as long as Umno and PAS were part of the equation.

“We can obtain a large majority. We could win around 130 to 135 seats in Parliament,” he said, adding that any internal problems among parties in the coalition could be solved amicably.

Meanwhile, BN secretary-general Annuar Musa briefly told FMT that BN was ready to discuss the proposed establishment of the grand coalition.

Umno grassroots won’t agree

Johor Umno deputy chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the party’s grassroots would not agree with the grand coalition.

He added that PPBM was a “weak minority” party that did not have grassroot support, causing them to lose the menteri besar post in Johor, Kedah and Perak after the 2018 general election.

“The principle of parliamentary democracy is that the majority determines the fate of the minority, not the other way around,” he said while also questioning the coalition’s ability to negotiate the distribution of seats.