Whither thy coalition, BN

One wonders whether Umno understands the idea of a political coalition.

Yesterday the MCA declared that it would pull out of the BN coalition if the coalition continues backing Pakatan Harapan once the current term ends.

MCA is not the first. MIC has already passed a resolution to quit the BN.

BN is made up of Umno, MCA, MIC and PBRS of Sabah.

In response to MCA, Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi confirmed that BN would continue its cooperation with the DAP in GE16.

Here is what Puad and Umno fail to see.

It takes a minimum three parties to form a coalition.

In the event MCA and MIC call it quits, BN would cease to exist.

Umno and PBRS aren’t enough to sustain a coalition.

One may argue that IPF, KIMMA, PPM and several other parties can fill the gap.

But can they?

MCA, MIC, Umno and PBRS are full members of the BN.

IPF and the others are Friends of BN not proper BN component parties.

Friends of BN is similar the opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional’s Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat.

Component member parties need to give a unanimous aye to a party applying to gain a full membership in BN.