PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional acting chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied meeting Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to plead with the party to stay in the coalition.

“The reports that PBB is leaving Barisan is beyond my knowledge. In fact, I did not meet with the Chief Minister (Abang Johari) and 'merayu' (plead) for PBB to not leave Barisan, as reported.

“However, I respect and welcome PBB and other Sarawak Barisan component parties' stand in wanting to have cooperation between the state and the Federal Government leadership,” Dr Ahmad Zahid posted on his Facebook page Thursday.

He added that Barisan always has an open mind in encouraging state governments under the coalition to take steps for the sake of the rakyat and the state.

“I also hope that there will not be any parties that will come up with any more unprofessional reports,” he added.

Earlier, The Star reported that Sarawak Barisan component parties will meet on June 12 to decide whether to leave the coalition.

An online news portal had earlier reported that Abang Johari had told Dr Ahmad Zahid that PBB would be destroyed if it did not distance itself from the coalition.

The other parties are Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Sources said that the parties had little interest in staying in Barisan after GE14 and would prefer to form their own Sarawak-based coalition to focus on the state's interests and prepare for the next state election in 2021.