Annuar: Not being part of caretaker govt disadvantageous to Umno

 

Former Umno supreme council member Annuar Musa today said should Umno pull out of the Perikatan Nasional government once parliament is dissolved, this would lead to disadvantages.

"If it is true that Umno's participation in the federal government is only until Parliament is dissolved, will Umno not be part of the 'caretaker' government?

"Won't doing so cause Umno to be disadvantaged? (In this scenario), it is for certain that the (caretaker) government - especially Bersatu - will not cooperate with Umno, which has decided to go against, or reject, Bersatu," said Annuar (photo, above) in a statement today.

This is likely the first open admission by an Umno figure on the power of incumbency without an independent caretaker government.

Annuar's statement was premised on speculation that the Umno leadership had decided on a deadline to cut ties with Bersatu during a supreme council meeting at Janda Baik, Pahang, on Feb 19.

According to Annuar, it was also speculated that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi relayed, in writing, the supreme council's decision to Prime Minister and Bersatu leader Muhyiddin Yassin.

Annuar summarised the contents of the purported letter as follows:

1. Umno will not work with Bersatu come to the 15th general election; and,

2. Umno will only be in the government until Parliament is dissolved.

Annuar said that the grassroots have a right to know if it was true that such a letter was submitted and why they weren't consulted.

"Why act before the national delegates assembly meets (on March 27)?" asked Annuar.

Annuar also urged the leadership to clarify if refusing to work with Bersatu during the next election meant Umno would also refuse to work with PN.

"Will this strengthen or weaken Umno?

"If a decision has been made to not work with Bersatu and PN, the grassroots want to know who will Umno ally with? Will we go alone? Will we work with PKR and Anwar, DAP and Lim Kit Siang? A new alignment?" asked Annuar.

"Has this decision been accepted by the BN supreme council? As party members, we await an explanation from the leadership," he added. - Mkini