Umno Supreme Council member Mahdzir Khalid today questioned the setting up a new Malay-majority political party, arguing that there are already "too many" in existence.
This is despite conceding that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the right to do so, as Malaysia is a democratic country.
"But if I'm talking in context of a Malay party - there are already many. So if someone wants to set up another, who else are they going to take as members besides the Malays?"
Mahdzir said this at a press conference after officiating the Setiawangsa Umno division meeting at Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Mahdzir pointed out that the opposition had already set up Pakatan Harapan, comprising PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, a splinter from Islamist party PAS.
Like most Harapan parties, PAS' membership base is also largely from Malay-Muslim voters.
Mahdzir, who is also education minister, said he is sure that Umno members would not join the new party.
"I don't see Umno members leaving because they have confidence (in the current Umno leadership)," he asserted.
Earlier in his speech, Mahdzir urged all members to give their full support to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, now seen to be under attack from "external forces".
"The prime minister who is also Umno president, is being attacked via various telecommunication means. They want to weaken him and reduce his influence. They want to raise doubts among members which would then weaken the party.
"So all of us nationwide should unite in the name of solidarity and support Najib as Umno president and prime minister," he stressed.
Mahdzir also said all members should not be ashamed of being with Umno, as it is the dominant party that would remain in power.
Muhyiddin had on Thursday confirmed that he would be setting-up a new political party, together with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, as well as four others as its pro-tem committee members.
Veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin later confirmed that the new party would be a Malay/bumiputera-based party and it would cooperate with other political parties against BN.
'Temporary party'
Meanwhile, Malacca Chief Minister Idris Harun compared the new party to previous Umno splinter parties, namely the now defunct Semangat 46, and the PKR.
He said the new party was merely an avenue for voicing disappointment, but ultimately the people would not rely on a party that is ‘temporary’.
“When Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah founded Semangat 46, we nearly lost power in a few states and to this day Kelantan is still lost to us; Terengganu fell a few times.
“But in the end, Semangat 46 (members) rejoined Umno. The same with PKR – such a strong movement until almost the entire country was chanting ‘Ini kalilah’, but the people know that they cannot depend their future upon something that is temporary.
“The party in the people’s hearts and minds is Umno, and I’m confident that the new party is the same as the other parties. It will follow Semangat 46 and PKR’s footsteps before it,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters in Ampang this morning, after officiating the local Umno division’s youth, women’s, and Puteri wing meetings. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.