Govt in 'safe waters' after three years, Umno seeks to navigate GE16

 

UMNO AGM | After three years being a part of the multi-coalition federal government and two years left before the next general election is due, the time has come for Umno to focus on its future political direction.

Delegates gathered at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, among others, focused on the party’s present and future cooperation to address what has been highlighted as a “drastic loss of support” and changing loyalties.

Selangor delegate Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican started off the afternoon’s session with a motion to support Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s presidential address delivered earlier today.

In his own speech, the Selayang Umno chief said the last three years have seen Umno play its role in government to help navigate the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim-led administration into “safe waters”.

“That is why the motion tabled today stipulates that after three years, from this moment onward, Umno has the right to enter into any cooperation, political alliances, discussions, or negotiations with any party to determine how we want to face GE16,” he stressed.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his speech at the Umno AGM earlier today

Among others, Hasnal cited a need for Umno to adopt new strategies to address what Zahid had described as “political oddities” - last seen during the Sabah election when BN had clashed with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) despite being in a federal alliance also with Pakatan Harapan.

“Once the election is over, we (three parties) sat down together again to discuss forming a government. This can happen (again) anywhere.

“That is what is being described as the ‘oddities’ of politics from now until GE16. So we will hold very active discussions on political arrangements.

“We are no longer bound or rigidly stuck with the current position, because it is not necessarily the case that we will continue with our partners in this coalition government.

“We may also ‘be friends’ with other parties,” he said.

Umno’s ties with others

As for Umno’s ties with current partners, Hasnal stressed that the party’s role in government has been to act as a “bulwark of the Malays” against “demands” from the DAP.

He said among “demands” by the DAP, which Umno had opposed, include a revival of a local council election, Unesco recognition for Chinese New Villages, and recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate examinations.

“There is not a single thing DAP has asked for that has succeeded. So why are we still being called UmDAP?” said Hasnal, citing a term which he said was commonly used to attack Umno members and leaders in support of the party’s role in government.

He singled out former Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil and Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, a former Umno deputy division chief, as two individuals who are actively “poisoning” and “distorting” the minds of the Malays with a “false narrative” on Umno and DAP.

“Because we are in the government, as a result, they (DAP) have failed.

“So, we should be proud that we remain the bulwark of the Malays, and DAP will not achieve anything as long as Umno remains that bulwark,” he stressed. - Mkini