PETALING JAYA: DAP’s P Ramasamy poured cold water today on Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s talk of a third force in the transition of power, saying the opposition remains divided on a host of matters.
He acknowledged that the crossover of elected representatives from Umno to PPBM appeared to have ended, but asked how Zahid could have arrived at the figure of 91 when speaking of the combined parliamentary seats of Umno and its allies.
“What is more important for Zahid to comment on is not a third force in the making, but why there is so much division within the ranks of Umno, in particular, and the opposition in general,” he said in a statement.
He was responding to Zahid’s comments reported by Malaysiakini yesterday in which the Umno president said his party and its allies could be a third force in the country.
Zahid had counted 40 MPs from Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), 18 from PAS, 19 from Sarawak, nine from Sabah, and “five more”.
However, Ramasamy who is Penang deputy chief minister II noted that only six Umno MPs had voiced support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad completing the full five-year term as prime minister, against the Pakatan Harapan (PH) agreement for Anwar Ibrahim to take over albeit at an unspecified time.
The six were Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar), Adham Baba (Tenggara), Mastura Mohd Yazid (Kuala Kangsar), Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis), Ismail Abdul Muttalib (Maran) and Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Jerantut).
“If only six Umno elected representatives can throw their support behind the prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to continue the full term, then this act itself tells much about the unity of Umno on a variety of national issues,” he added.
He said Umno and BN lost last year’s general election due to “the weight of corruption, mismanagement and scandals”.
“Given this, Umno has much soul searching to do before it can emerge as a new reformed political force, let alone the vanguard of a third force.
“If Umno cannot even project a solid front in the coming Tanjung Piai by-election, then what third force is Zahid talking about?”
Ramasamy also said the leadership transition matter is for the PH coalition partners to decide.
“If the PH council forsakes its duty in deciding the succession issue, then maybe there is a role for outside political forces,” he said. - FMT
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