Johari: Why's a party with 18 MPs asking one with 54 to dissolve?

Umno supreme council member Johari Abdul Ghani (above) has dismissed PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah's suggestion that Umno should dissolve.

Johari, who is contesting for an Umno vice-president position in the June 30 party elections, pointed out that his party had way more members of parliament than PAS does.

"In the first place, why should we dissolve our party?

"We still have about 54 MPs when PAS only has 18," he told Malaysiakini.

Johari was asked to respond to Mohd Amar, who said Umno should dissolve after leading BN to defeat in the May 9 general election, and its members should then join PAS.

The former finance minister II, however, said he was confident Umno could make a comeback if it could overcome its shortcomings and improve itself.

"I don't think we have any intention at all to dissolve this party but I want to give assurance that if we can improve ourselves, if we can correct whatever weaknesses we have, I am very sure that Umno will come back in the next election," he said.

Johari also downplayed any cooperation with PAS at the current juncture.

"Let them (PAS) go their way and we (Umno) go our way," he said. 

BN won a total of 79 parliamentary seats in the May 9 general election, down from 133 in the 13th general election.

However, the coalition disintegrated after the disastrous defeat, with nine out of the 13 component parties quitting to form their own coalitions.

This left BN with only 57 seats, 54 of which are held by Umno. The remaining seats are held by MIC and MCA.

Despite the defeat, Umno at 54 seats remains the largest party in Parliament.

This is followed by PKR with 47 seats and DAP with 42 seats. -Mkini