Zuraida denies fake message saying her NGO told to demonise Umno

 

NGO Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN) has denied a viral message claiming that it had received an instruction to demonise Umno after the Malay-based party said it was mulling withdrawing its support for Perikatan Nasional.

In a statement today, PKN patron Zuraida Kamaruddin stressed that the organisation was not involved in any such thing.

"This morning, I was alerted about the message circulated on WhatsApp, entitled 'Instruction for media Peggerak Komuniti Negara and Perikatan Nasional' which means an instruction related to a statement made by Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan at PWTC yesterday," she said.

"As patron of PKN, I wish to stress that PKN had never received any such instruction from PN information chief's office as what had been claimed in the WhatsApp message," said Zuraida, who is also the housing and local government minister.

"I also denied vehemently the involvement of PKN and all its wings, namely Nations of Women (NOW), Pemuda Negara dan Wanita Muda Negara, be it directly or indirectly, in this plot," she said.

"I hope these irresponsible groups will stop circulating this false message," she said, adding that the PN government was focused on tackling Covid-19 and reviving the country's economy which had been badly hit by the pandemic.

According to the fake message, the NGO, which is linked to Bersatu supreme council member Azmin Ali, purportedly received instructions from the PN information chief's office to portray Umno as a power-crazy party and that it supported opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In a meeting held last night, the Umno supreme council Political Bureau decided that the party should consider withdrawing its support for PN and set new terms for continuing its cooperation with it. - Mkini