Chong said Zahid should “be careful” in all matters related to cooperation between BN and Pakatan Harapan, adding that he should also “stick to his principles”.

Former foes BN and PH are among the coalitions that form the unity government.

“As BN chairman, he should prioritise the component parties in BN and look after their interests, instead of PH and DAP’s,” Chong said in a statement today.

“Cooperation between BN and PH must be reciprocal and beneficial to both coalitions and their parties.”

Asked to elaborate, Chong told FMT he was referring to Zahid’s comments to the media on Saturday that Umno members are finding it hard to accept DAP as a partner in the Anwar Ibrahim administration.

The Umno president said he is ready to meet those who opposed the cooperation and explain its decision to work with DAP.

“In the past, BN voters supported MCA and MIC candidates. We will use the same method now, not voting based on party lines but out of a sense of togetherness in the unity government,” he was quoted as saying.

Zahid was commenting on Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan’s view that Umno members should put aside their personal views and consider voting for DAP candidates.

Ahmad said Umno members should vote for the DAP candidates, who will be contesting on a PH ticket, in the upcoming state elections as they represented the unity government and not the party itself.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said the party will reciprocate Umno’s call to back DAP by asking its supporters to support BN in the state polls.

He said it is only natural and logical for parties to support their allies in the unity government.

“It is a logical statement (by Ahmad). When we are working together, we will support each other. The same goes for DAP leaders in the state election campaigns. We will ask supporters to vote for BN, especially Umno.

“The cooperation is a must because we are not fighting each other. We thank Ahmad for helping us out,” Loke told reporters at Parliament.