Most Umno MPs are with Perikatan Nasional, claims PPBM man

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) says the party will not join PN and claims Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed interest in joining Muafakat Nasional.

PETALING JAYA: A top PPBM leader has downplayed Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement that the party will not join Perikatan Nasional (PN), insisting that most of the party’s MPs are “with us”.

The leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also denied that PPBM had expressed interest to join Muafakat Nasional, the pact between Umno and PAS.

“It is only those with court cases and their supporters who do not want to be with us. Their MPs want to,” he said, adding that he believed certain quarters were trying to apply political pressure on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Earlier today, Zahid said Umno will not join PN though it will continue to support the coalition to form the federal government as well as several state administrations.

He said the decision was made at an Umno Supreme Council meeting on July 24, and that the party will focus on strengthening Muafakat Nasional instead.

Zahid also said Muhyiddin, who is the PPBM president, expressed interest in joining Muafakat Nasional.

“The PPBM Supreme Council was informed that we were invited to join Muafakat Nasional, not apply to join it,” said the leader.

In fact, he said, PN was being registered as a political entity with the Registrar of Societies.

“But Umno is not included, MIC and PAS are there and so are a few others,” he said, declining to elaborate.

“Umno or their MPs can join later if they want to. Muafakat Nasional itself is not a party but a pact.”

The leader said anyone else who wanted to “build Malaysia” with PPBM and PAS were welcome to do so by joining PN. - FMT