UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party’s cooperation with the unity government is until the next general election, in an apparent warning against attempts to poach its members.

Zahid, who is also the chairman of Barisan Nasional, led by Umno, said there should not be any efforts to get its members to defect.

“Loyalty is something the Umno leadership prioritises,” he said when officiating the Negeri Sembilan Barisan Nasional convention in Seremban on Sunday.

Zahid said it was vital for BN’s views, especially from its ministers, to be taken into account to ensure a stable administration.

His statement follows Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks on the unity government’s prospects in the next general election.

Anwar, who is also the Pakatan Harapan chairman, was reported to have said the unity government had a better advantage of winning the elections if they were called soon, citing improvements in terms of governance and the welfare of civil servants.

Zahid’s remarks also come following confirmation that Umno Supreme Council member Tengku Zafrul Aziz had held preliminary talks with PKR, led by Anwar, to join the party, although no decision has been made.

Yesterday, FMT quoted analysts as saying the episode has damaged inter-party relations within the unity government.

Zahid reminded BN members to work as a team if it did not want to lose in the 16th general election.

He said the problems that BN encountered in the previous two general elections included leaders who had “scored own goals”. However, he did not name anyone in particular.

He said BN members must acknowledge the current political realities, which demanded that the coalition’s partners work together and come up with better strategies.