Avoid ‘power at all cost’ politics, says Umno info chief

 

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said Umno members hoped for a harmonious solution in Perak. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: As Umno leaders consider the formation of a coalition state government in Perak, the party’s information chief, Shahril Hamdan, has sounded a warning against a strategy of “power at all cost”.

While he said that he did not wish to speculate on matters in Perak, Shahril said the stand taken by Bera division chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob, “No PKR, No DAP”, was applicable not only to the Bera division but was a matter of party policy having been decided by the Supreme Council and the general assembly.

Ismail is a party vice-president and senior minister for security in the federal government.

Unless there was a change of policy, that stance would remain, he said in a posting on Facebook about his day in Bera and Kuala Lipis briefing state and divisional information chiefs about current affairs.

In recent days, some Umno leaders have speculated about forming a coalition with parties in Pakatan Harapan to take power in Perak, following the collapse of the Perikatan Nasional government led by Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Faizal lost a confidence motion in the state assembly on Friday, which was defeated by 48-10 with one abstention. He submitted his resignation as menteri besar and that of his executive council yesterday.

Shahril said Umno members looked forward to a harmonious solution as stated by party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan, who urged PPBM and PAS to stay together and maintain the PN-led state government.

He said integrity and principles were the two most important aspects of politics. “If there is a line that should not be crossed or compromised between parties, the same should apply to members and the party,” he said. - FMT