Umno leaders want party to end ties with Bersatu

KUALA LUMPUR — Top United Malays National Organisation (Umno) members have voiced their dissatisfaction of being undermined by Bersatu and have urged their party to sever ties with the latter.

These leaders feel that Bersatu has played them out in the recent Sabah state elections and want their party leadership to withdraw from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

Their stand follows Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan’s call on Thursday to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to provide a clear direction to the party,

Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamad said the party must focus on strengthening Muafakat Nasional with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), and not PN.

He fears that continued alliance with PN will only be unprofitable for Umno and PAS.

“This is not the comradeship of the Barisan Nasional (BN) era. The BN agreement is sincere but the new PN is only six-months old and can no longer be trusted.

“In fact, the government PN formed is not strong because there is no comradeship, so it is better for Umno to withdraw.

“The Sabah state election proves that Bersatu and PN are not sincere. We were given tough seats (to win) while Bersatu came in our way and put other candidates (PBS and STAR) to clash with Umno… and Umno people have given up many times. 

“So, if Umno decides to quit (PN), then the ministers and deputy ministers in the PN government must also set their stance. Do not think for your own paunch,” the former Pulai Member of Parliament (MP) told Suara Merdeka.

On Thursday, Mr Mohamad said Mr Zahid must indicate where the party stands now in its relationship with its political allies after the way the party was treated by PN after winning the Sabah elections.

Mr Mohamad said Umno was sidelined in Sabah and has become a small party in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

Besides Mr Nur Jazlan, Padang Rengas MP Mohamed Nazri Aziz has also urged Umno to terminate its ties with Bersatu, claiming that the Umno grassroots wants it.

“The grassroots strongly feel we should work only with PAS in Muafakat Nasional, minus Bersatu,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia on Friday.

Mr Nazri said Umno and PAS, having stronger grassroots support than Bersatu, must listen to the voices coming from their members.

“Umno and PAS have grassroots support, and we have proven that by winning big in six by-elections since GE14, twice beating Bersatu.

“So, we must listen to the grassroots,” he said.

Mr Nur Nazlan also echoed this, saying that the winning trend of candidates in Sabah might not be the same in Peninsular Malaysia as voters here choose the party over the candidate.

“Eight people who contested and won for Bersatu were former Umno leaders, including new chief minister Hajiji Noor… they were former ministers and deputies (in Sabah).

“But in the peninsula, voters choose the party, not the candidate very much,” he said.

Mr Zahid said on Thursday that the party’s political bureau will be meeting soon to chart its future, after which the matter will be taken up to the Supreme Council for a decision.

He urged all party leaders to participate in the discussions to state their stand. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT