UMNO STARTS TO CALL THE SHOTS – WHILE MUHYIDDIN STAYS IN ‘ZOMBIE’ MODE: ZAHID TAKES THE LEAD IN GRABBING MALACCA STATE GOVT FROM HARAPAN MB ADLY – WHILE ANNUAR MUSA ANNOUNCES PLAN TO REPLACE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today met Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Mohd Khalil Yaakob in Ayer Keroh.

Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, was seen entering Seri Negeri at 11.51am.

Also seen where vehicles carrying Malacca BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh and state assembly Speaker Omar Jaafar.

Two days ago, Khalil was reported to have received representations that Adly Zahari, who was then chief minister and is Malacca Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, no longer commanded confidence of the majority of the state assembly.

Rauf, during a media conference the same day, claimed that the new coalition has the support of 17 assemblymen in the 28-seat assembly. – Bernama

New govt may change Dewan speaker, says Annuar

THE Perikatan Nasional federal government may replace the Dewan Rakyat speaker in the next parliament sitting, said Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa.

He said it is a long-held practice that the first agenda in a parliamentary sitting for a new government is to pick a new speaker.

“We need to understand that there will be changes in parliament if a new government comes in, including the replacement of the speaker.

“Naturally the new government will issue a notice to replace the speaker,” he told reporters after a meeting with MCA today.

Amanah’s Mohamad Ariff Yusof is the current Dewan Rakyat speaker, elected after Pakatan Harapan won the last general election.

At the same press conference, Annuar said Perikatan Nasional will soon form a secretariat made up of the secretaries-general of all the component parties.

“All parties, even the smallest, will be part of this secretariat. We will have to work together,” he said.

Bersatu, too, will be part of this secretariat, he said.

Bersatu defected from PH to form the federal government with Barisan Nasional and PAS. Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin is the prime minister, but Umno has the seats in parliament among the coalition partners.

Bersatu is now divided with some of its leaders, including secretary-general Marzuki Yahya, siding with party founder and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Annuar said he was informed that Bersatu would decide on the fate of its secretary-general in the next few days. – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

BERNAMA / THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT