Selective prosecution, distribution of positions angered Umno - Nazri

 

Selective court prosecution was among the reasons which led to an "enraged" Umno leadership mulling to withdraw its support for Perikatan Nasional (PN), said Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz.

The former de facto law minister said Umno leaders were also frustrated with unfair distribution of cabinet positions and appointments to key posts without consultation.

He pointed out many were distressed by Bersatu's strong-arm decisions during and after the Sabah state election, especially on the appointment of Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji Mohd Noor as the new chief minister.

Nazri said that while Umno agrees the law must be allowed to take its course, the party's grassroots were questioning the "unequal" application of justice.

He said this was apparent when Umno leaders were hauled to court while no action was taken against those in PN component parties.

"We support that we must uphold the rule of law with regards to (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak and (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, but we want to know what happened to the investigation into a government leader’s sex tape?" asked Nazri.

In a meeting chaired by party president Zahid recently, the Umno supreme council's political bureau decided that Umno should consider withdrawing support for PN and set new terms for continuing to cooperate with the government.

“There is also the issue of the alleged buying off of Umno leaders to jump to Bersatu," Nazri was quoted as saying by The Vibes.

“Why have the authorities discontinued investigations into the matter? There must be no selective prosecution. This is what the Umno leadership and the grassroots are especially enraged about.”

Many in Umno were said to also be unhappy that Bersatu was given the most cabinet positions when it is Umno that controls the most number of parliamentary seats among the PN parties.

Additionally, many were dissatisfied that Umno had to make way for Bersatu to contest in a number of seats during the recently concluded Sabah election.

On the grassroots level, Nazri said Bersatu had started to demand for, and had taken over, a number of village chief positions traditionally held by Umno.

“Finally, there is the issue of appointments of Umno leaders as officers under Bersatu politicians, without first consulting us, as the recent case in Perak,” he said, referring to the appointment of Umno’s Pengkalan Hulu assemblyperson Aznel Ibrahim as political secretary to Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu from Bersatu.

“These are just attempts to divide us. So, of course, we are not happy. Don’t try to insult or divide us," Nazri added.

Umno is a part of BN, which, together with Bersatu, PAS, GPS, and PBS, formed a political pact to govern the country following the Sheraton Move. The political coup in February ousted the 22-month Pakatan Harapan federal government.

However, the relationship between Umno, Bersatu, and PAS has become increasingly complicated as they will be jostling for votes when contesting in the Malay heartland in the next general election.

Umno controls 39 parliamentary seats while Bersatu has 31 seats, followed by PAS with 18.

They have committed to entering the next general election as a coalition to avoid competing against each other.

While the ruling coalition is known as the PN government, Umno is not officially part of the PN coalition. PAS is officially part of PN.

Meanwhile, Umno and PAS had formed the political coalition Muafakat Nasional in September 2019. However, Muafakat has yet to be formally registered. - Mkini