As Umno mulls break-up, Bersatu is determined to keep PN govt intact

 

Bersatu has pledged to keep the present Perikatan Nasional government intact amid pressure from Umno's grassroots for the party to sever ties with Bersatu ahead of the 15th general election.

Bersatu also urged all parties to show sincerity and express their commitment through strong organisational discipline, to ensure the PN pact will be respected and will last.

The decision was reached at a Bersatu supreme council meeting at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya last night, chaired by party president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The meeting, which ended at close to midnight, was held as top Umno leaders led by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi similarly convened for a lengthy discussion at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

"As a party that pioneered the formation of the PN government, Bersatu is committed to defending the political cooperation reached with parties that form the government, based on an agenda to unite the ummah (Malay-Muslims) and Malaysians as a whole.

"In fact, it will be continued fairly and justly, to assure the prosperity of the rakyat from all religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds," Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan said in a statement released early this morning.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan

Within PN, Wan Saiful said, Bersatu would continue to work with its component parties - PAS, as well as Sabah-based Star and SAPP.

Umno is in the government, along with its BN components, but it remains out of the PN coalition.

Umno is also in a separate pact with PAS, the Muafakat Nasional, which is a cooperation agreement reached as the two largest opposition parties during the previous Harapan administration.

While Umno grassroots leaders look at a snap poll to resolve the ongoing political uncertainties, Wan Saiful said Bersatu's stand is for the GE15 to be called only when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.

"Therefore, Bersatu's primary agenda at this moment is to focus all our efforts and energy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and revive the country's economy," he said.

Strained ties between Umno and Bersatu saw a majority of Umno's grassroots from 189 out of 191 divisions calling for a break-up ahead of GE15.

The matter will be put to a vote at the Umno general assembly, which is to be held on Jan 31. - Mkini