Umno-Bersatu ties: Nazri says grassroots cannot be ignored, it's over

 

Umno has reached the point of no return with regard to severing ties with Bersatu, according to Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Pointing to a news report that claimed 189 out of 191 Umno divisions have decided to end the parties' political cooperation, the former minister said the voice of the grassroots cannot be ignored.

Earlier, Umno's Ketereh MP and axed BN secretary-general Annuar Musa had cast aspersion on this figure, claiming that based on the information he received, only 99 divisions wanted to end the relationship with Bersatu.

However, Nazri believes that the writing is on the wall.

"You can't say no to what the grassroots want. By right, even the supreme council can't say no. The supreme council exists because of the grassroots," he told Malaysiakini.

The Umno supreme council is set to debate the motion not to cooperate with Bersatu tonight. Nazri is not part of the supreme council.

It is understood that there is a faction in the supreme council that wants to continue cooperating with Perikatan Nasional.

Nazri also dismissed views that the grassroots were hasty in making a decision, claiming they felt the brunt of Bersatu's alleged sidelining of Umno in the government.

This is over matters such as the appointment of village chiefs and distribution of allocations, which he claimed are biased towards Bersatu members.

'Views of leaders with vested interests unreliable'

On the contrary, he said it is the views of leaders with vested interests that are unreliable.

"Leaders have a lot to think about, position, money, what they want and so on. This can't be relied on," he added.

However, he said the decision to sever ties with Bersatu would not take effect tonight and must wait for the Umno general assembly on Jan 31.

Meanwhile, Nazri was also confident that the supreme council would not decide to side with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

"We still maintain the party's decision. No Anwar, no DAP," he said.

He was responding to Annuar's claim that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wanted to form an alliance with Anwar.

Nazri did not dismiss that there were talks with Anwar but said it was just part of a process.

"As long as it doesn't materialise, there is nothing to talk about," he said.

He added that Bersatu too had discussed a possible confidence and supply agreement with PKR and DAP in order to get support for Budget 2021.

"Why can Bersatu do it, but not us?" Nazri asked. - Mkini