BOMBSHELL – MAHATHIR SAYS ANWAR’S RELEASE DELAYED AS ZAHID ANNOUNCES UMNO TO NEGOTIATE WITH ‘ANY PARTIES’, INCLUDING FROM HARAPAN, TO FORM NEW GOVT OR OPPOSITION PACT – BUT DENIES MEETING ANWAR LAST NIGHT

KUALA LUMPUR— Acting Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party is willing to explore new political partnerships after components began abandoning the defeated Barisan Nasional (BN).

Zahid added, after chairing a special meeting of Umno’s supreme council today, that no such talks have begun in earnest, however.

“Umno and BN will gather our strength to hold negotiations with any parties in regard to the formation of any form of government or Opposition,” he said.

“The supreme council members have given me the mandate to proceed with negotiations and further actions.”

He added that such talks would be undertaken “en bloc”, suggesting that this would involve the remaining parties still in BN.

Zahid added that Umno would continue working on its rejuvenation following its unprecedented defeat in the 14th general election.

“We have formed a taskforce to carry on party-related duties and it is also entrusted to revive Umno as a force in the Malaysian political scene.

“We have started with the restructuring exercise, and are ready to march forward and will never look back,” he said.

He urged surviving BN and other Opposition lawmakers to regroup, but reminded them that Umno remained the single largest party outside of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Although Pakatan is the government of the day, we are the sole party with the largest numbers of MPs.

“We know they have problems too. We feel like Umno needs to consolidate so that if there is any potential collaboration, Umno’s best interests will still be taken care of,” he said.

Also present were Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa and women’s chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, among others.

Zahid took over as the acting head of the party after former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak resigned over the weekend. – MALAY MAIL

Zahid denies meeting Anwar yesterdar

PETALING JAYA: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied he met PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday.

“At the time of the said meeting with Anwar, I was praying (bersolat hajat) at home,” he said after an Umno Supreme Council meeting today.

He was replying to questions by reporters on speculations that he had met Anwar yesterday.

Zahid took over from Najib Razak who stepped down as Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman two days ago due to the dismal election results.

The former deputy prime minister said Umno respected the decision made by the rakyat on May 9, but stressed that the party still had 54 Umno MPs out of the 78 in Barisan Nasional.

He said the Supreme Council members had decided that if there were any decisions to be made by BN and Umno, it had to be done en bloc.

“We will use all the strength we have to carry out these discussions.”

Zahid, who won the Bagan Datuk seat, also praised all Sabah and Sarawak MPs who continued to be with BN.

He said anyone who jumped ship or supported PH would lose their membership automatically.

He added the party had started restructuring Umno to move forward.

“We will not look backward. We want Umno to be stronger with members from BN in the coalition.

“We urge Umno members at the grassroots level to stand united as the party is undergoing a test.”

He said BN had to recognise it was now an opposition coalition. Everyone needs to help each other to strengthen the party.  – FMT

Anwar’s release may be delayed, says Dr M

The pardon and release of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim may be slightly delayed, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

“On our promise to get a pardon for Anwar, it will continue, but the process will be followed.

“Even though it has been agreed, the Pardons Board meet might be slightly delayed because we want to follow the rules,” Mahathir said at a press conference.

Earlier Anwar’s daughter, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar had said that the Pardons Board will meet tomorrow.  – MKINI

Pardons Board to meet on Anwar’s release on Wednesday (May 16)

The Pardons Board meeting on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s release will be held on Wednesday, contrary to earlier reports that it would be held tomorrow.

PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil said the party was informed of the matter by the Prime Minister’s Department.

“As such, any programmes related to Anwar’s release are postponed until further notice,” he said in a statement today. – MKINI

Anwar to be released May 15 afternoon

KUALA LUMPUR— Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to be released tomorrow afternoon as the Federal Territories Pardons Board has brought forward its meeting initially scheduled at 5pm May 15 to 11am.

The de facto PKR leader is currently warded at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital here.

Malay Mail understands that Anwar’s release was to happen tomorrow evening as the Pardons Board was originally scheduled to meet at 5pm tomorrow.

That has now changed.

In a short statement, Anwar’s eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar said the family had been notified that the meeting will take place at Istana Negara and will be attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other members of the Pardons Board.

“DSAI’s release is expected to take place in the afternoon,” the statement read.

DSAI is the acronym used for Anwar. – MALAY MAIL

MALAY MAIL /MKINI