Umno man wants proof that BN is not receiving 'short end of the stick'

Umno's former Johor Bahru MP, Shahrir Samad, who has been vocal against the party surrendering the prime minister position in the next general election, said there is a need to show that BN won't be getting the "short end of the stick" if it were to stick with Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Shahrir (photo, above) said even now, BN not only needed to share positions with Bersatu but also the "G10", in reference to the group of PKR defectors led by former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

"BN not only has to share with Bersatu but also the G10 comprising supporters of Azmin Ali.

"Azmin and his G10 does not even have a party," he said in a Facebook post.

The Pakatan Harapan government, which was elected in the 14th general election, collapsed after Muhyiddin pulled Bersatu out of the coalition while Azmin engineered the defection of 10 MPs, including himself.

Together, they formed the new PN government with BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

Speculation is rife that the G10 plans to set up a new political party but for now, they are appearing in the Dewan Rakyat as MPs under Bersatu.

Shahrir also questioned if the G10, on top of Bersatu, will also demand BN concede seats for it to contest in the general election.

"It will be amazing if Johor Bahru, which was won by PKR in the 14th general election, is given to G10 in the 15th general election," he said.

Shahrir was defeated in Johor Bahru by PKR's Akmal Nasir in the last general election. Shahrir garnered 30,270 votes to Akmal's 50,052 votes.

He also questioned if constituencies which originally belonged to Umno but were later lost to Bersatu through defections meant that Umno would have to give them up in the next general election.

"And what about Azmin? Will all PKR seats belong to G10?" he said.

"For these reasons, the decision to endorse Muhyiddin must be explained to show that BN won't lose out," he said.

Earlier today, Umno supreme council leader Annuar Musa who had announced that Umno and PAS had agreed in principle to endorse Muhyiddin as the prime ministerial candidate in the next general election appeared to walk back the comment.

He clarified that the comment was about the support at present but could not say for sure if the general election is held a few years down the road.

The 15th general election is due in 2023. - Mkini