KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has yet to receive an official application from Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) although it has reportedly expressed its intention to join the coalition, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       Ahmad Zahid, who is Barisan chairman and Umno president, said the coalition was prepared to receive any party that subscribes to its principles.

       "In the Barisan constitution, there are three categories of parties or individuals, namely core party, affiliate party or friends of Barisan and third, direct membership. These three types (of membership) show Barisan's openness in accepting those who are confident with Barisan principles.

       "The discussion of this topic at the Barisan convention on June 1 showed our readiness to accept not only PBM but also other parties regardless of their size," he told reporters after opening the Wacana Aspirasi Umno (WAU) 2.0 forum entitled 'Challenges and Future of Young People' here on Saturday (June 11).

       Ahmad Zahid said any membership application would be decided by the top leadership of Barisan.

       Asked on PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang's statement that those lobbying for an early 15th General Election were greedy for power, Ahmad Zahid said the PAS chief might be worried that his party would not be able to win as many parliamentary seats as it did the last time if the polls were held now.

       On the government's move to abolish the mandatory death penalty, he said this proposal had been discussed by Barisan when it was in power.

       "This proposal is the trend worldwide ... I'm confident that both the opposition and the government have common grounds to agree on this matter (abolition of mandatory death penalty)," he added. – Bernama