MAHATHIR TO REJOIN UMNO? IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE FIRST HINT, MAHATHIR SAYS HE WOULD ‘CHOOSE’ UMNO IF IT WASN’T SO CORRUPT YET UMNO HAS BEEN CORRUPT SINCE HIS TIME AS THEIR PRESIDENT – WHILE 7 UMNO MPs AT AZMIN’S CLANDESTINE MEETING REVEAL THEY WERE THERE TO INVITE AZMIN TO JOIN UMNO

Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has turned down the idea of forming a unity government with opposition party Umno.

The chief reason being the party’s reputation of harbouring corrupt leaders.

“If the party did not merosakkan (destroy) its own name, I would choose Umno.

“But he and his friends, like (former prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak, have used Umno to make money.

“Why would I add such a party (into Harapan)?,” Mahathir said when asked about Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa’s call that he had to choose between Umno and DAP to retain power.

The unity government idea was mooted by former minister and Umno Arau MP Shahidan Kassim.

Najib is presently on trial for three 1MDB-related cases – the RM42 million SRC International case, the RM2.28 billion 1MDB case and the 1MDB audit report tampering case.

The PM nevertheless thanked Umno and PAS for supporting his leadership.

“What I know is that PAS also said they want to support me, thank you. Umno also said they want to support me, thank you. I don’t know who else does not support me.

“But if they don’t support me, they can always pass a resolution of no confidence against the prime minister, and I will abide by the rules,” he quipped.

Saddiq: unity gov’t idea ridiculous

Mahathir spoke to the media this evening after officiating the Malaysia Future Leaders School Alumni Convention at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi, Selangor.

With him was Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who similarly rejected the unity government idea and branded it “ridiculous”.

“It is ridiculous. We are part of Harapan. That was the coalition that won GE14, and we are here today because of Harapan.

“Let’s not forget it is the same leaders who looted from the Malaysian coffers, (and) who are now being charged in court. A combination of more than 100 charges but yet they are still leading the coalition and the very same parties,” he said when asked.

Syed Saddiq, who is the Harapan Youth chief, urged the government to remain focused on serving the people, not on forming new governments.

“If anything, I think the people are frustrated with power struggles. It is more important to focus on actual rakyat issues.

“The youth want jobs, housing and the cost of living to be handled. Let us focus on that and not on unity government or another government to be formed…

“They (the opposition) can say whatever they want, but we in government must be focused,” he elaborated. – M’kini

Umno MPs claim they never sought Azmin’s advice on jumping ship, asked him to join them instead

KUALA LUMPUR — The seven Umno MPs who met Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali at his official residence earlier this week today claimed that they went there to invite him to join the Opposition party.

In a joint statement, the seven MPs, part of the reportedly 22 Umno MPs who met Azmin said voters have clearly rejected the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after the ruling coalition was defeated in the Tanjung Piai by-election.

“In view of Barisan Nasional’s big win in Tanjung Piai, we invited Azmin join Umno because it is clear that now the rakyat prefers Umno and BN,” they said in a statement tonight.

The seven are Kuala Krau MP Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said, Jempol MP Datuk Salim Sharif, Jelebu MP Datuk Jalaluddin Alias, Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Lipis MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad and Kuala Kangsar MP Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid.

They were responding to prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comment earlier today that the Umno MPs met Azmin to seek advice on whether they should join other parties.

They said discussions during the dinner meeting with Azmin focused on government funding for small projects in their respective constituencies.

“At no point did any of the BN MPs state anything else during the meeting.

“As said many times before, we will never leave Umno, let alone defect,” they said.

Earlier today, Dr Mahathir claimed that the MPs told Azmin that they have lost direction and are seeking to join other parties.

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously asked Azmin to clarify his meeting with them.

Azmin had since downplayed the meeting by saying that it was a normal meeting and that he is open to anyone who wants to meet him.

Umno disciplinary chairman Tan Sri Apandi Ali has reportedly confirmed that several complaints have been made against the lawmakers that included Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, the party’s former vice-president and cousin of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He added that the disciplinary board will investigate and take necessary action if the MPs have breached the Umno constitution. – MALAY MAIL

MKINI / MALAY MAIL