Umno repeats call for truce and ‘war cabinet’

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a stable administration is needed to help with the country’s recovery.

PETALING JAYA: Umno has repeated its call for a political truce and the formation of a “war cabinet” to focus on overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic in the wake of Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as prime minister.

Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a stable administration was needed to help with the country’s recovery and attend to the welfare of the people, a matter which is becoming increasingly critical.

Zahid said Umno had vast experience in governing the nation as it had been part of Barisan Nasional which governed the country for 61 years.

The party was considering several candidates to succeed Muhyiddin, he said, while also denying that he had nominated himself for the position. He said the matter had never crossed his mind.

Zahid said a general election should be called only after Malaysia had achieved herd immunity to Covid-19.

“To ensure political stability and cooperation is achieved, there needs to be a truce on persecuting parties and rival leaders. Using government agencies to weaken one’s opponents to remain in power will not benefit the people,” he said, in what appeared to be a reference to the party’s issues with the Registrar of Societies.

The registrar recently said that the Umno Supreme Council had only caretaker functions as its tenure had ended on June 30, and could not make any substantive decisions.

Umno Youth had this morning also proposed a “wartime unity government” which should be led by a non-controversial figure.

Youth wing leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said any interim prime minister should have a limited mandate related to the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

The country’s interests come first, says Warisan chief

In a separate statement today, Warisan president Shafie Apdal said that whoever takes over the reins of power must put the country’s interests above the interests of individuals or parties.

“I really hope that all efforts related to vaccination, health, education, economy and welfare of the people will not be stopped and hindered,” he said in a post on Facebook. - FMT