In 2018, then BN secretary-general Nazri Abdul Aziz reached out to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and pledged Umno's support if the latter would guarantee the party is not dissolved once he becomes prime minister.

Nazri - who is now vocally against Umno working with Anwar - said his manoeuvrings at the time was necessary to ensure his party's survival.

"At the time, I felt I needed to be close to the next PM, and then coax him not to...