BN-PN political understanding: Respect Umno divisions' stance on seat allocations, says Akmal

 

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh (centre) launching the Pasir Salak Umno division delegates’ meeting at the Felcra Changkat Lada Grand Hall today. PIC BY NSTP/ Muhammad Zulsyamini Sufian Suri

PASIR SALAK: Umno division leaders' views on seat allocations for future elections following the party's political understanding with Perikatan Nasional should be respected, said Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

Akmal said division leaders had the right to voice their views on seat distribution before a final decision was made by the respective state Umno liaison committees and the party's central leadership.

Referring to Barisan Nasional's victory in regaining Negri Sembilan yesterday, Akmal said the state's original plan was for BN to contest all 36 state seats, but the final decision saw the coalition field candidates in only 25 constituencies.

"The decisions made at the division level are open for discussion. Even in Negri Sembilan, the state Umno leadership initially decided to contest all the seats, but in the end we only contested 25.

"Whatever the decision, as party members we will abide by it.

"When we accepted the decision in Negri Sembilan and weighed the pros and cons, we decided to contest 25 seats.

"Alhamdulillah, today we have formed the state government with a two-thirds majority," he said after opening the Pasir Salak Umno division delegates' meeting here today.

He was commenting on the growing momentum of BN-PN cooperation, particularly in states such as Perak, where PN holds 26 state seats compared with BN's nine.

Asked how confident he was that BN-PN cooperation in Perak could achieve the same success as in Negri Sembilan, Akmal said there was nothing impossible in politics.

In a related development, Akmal said the convincing victory by BN and PN in Negri Sembilan sent a clear message that the people had rejected Pakatan Harapan's claims that Umno promoted racial sentiments and exploited religion for political gain.

"PH's claims that Umno promotes racial sentiments and exploits religion are simply not true because, in the end, the people of Negri Sembilan rejected the party that practised such politics, namely PH itself.

"We respected the people's decision when Umno lost in the past, and today, when Umno has won, we must also respect the people's decision.

"Our president has already said the next stop is Melaka and, God willing, Putrajaya one day," he said. - NST