Annuar likens Tok Mat's speech to views of someone outside the govt

 

Senior Umno leaders should not talk about the date of the 15th general election (GE15) in public, Umno minister Annuar Musa said.

Commenting on the speech of the party deputy president Mohamad Hasan during the launch of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings last night, Annuar said that openly discussing the election date was "very out of place".

He said that it would only spark polemics. Only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he added, has the right to decide on the election date and the prime minister may only advise.

“The date of this (forthcoming) general election has never been discussed or questioned so openly.

“If I remember correctly, this is the 41st Umno General Assembly that I have attended, the election date has never been decided so openly because it is a very important party strategy,” Annuar added.

He said this to reporters after the joint opening ceremony of the Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Mohamad, who is widely referred to as Tok Mat, gave the opening speech at the event.

‘Open discussion precedes Agong’s jurisdiction’

“When discussed openly, it precedes the Agong’s jurisdiction… One of them (a jurisdiction) is to accept or reject the dissolution of Parliament.

“So, the question of the dissolution of Parliament should not be discussed outside the context of the Federal Constitution.

“That is why, in my opinion, it would be good for the top leadership to discuss it in private and maintain it as a party strategy - not speaking so openly about it,” Annuar said.

Among the aspects that need to be discussed, added the former Umno secretary-general, are the pros and cons of GE15 being expedited.

He also questioned the implications that would occur if the proposed dissolution of Parliament was not approved by the Agong.

"So I don't think it's in the right place (for the GE to be discussed openly)," Annuar said.

Mohamad Hasan launching the AGMs of the Umno wings yesterday

In his speech, Tok Mat said that there was no reason for Umno to delay the GE. He also questioned why some government leaders wanted to delay the election.

Tok Mat said Umno could not continue to rely on the trust and supply agreement (CSA) and memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the opposition to maintain the country's stability.

This would mean that Umno, he added, depended on the kindness and goodwill of other parties to rule - thereby rendering Umno to be a weak influence.

Commenting further, Annuar also described Mohamad's speech as "heavy", and viewed him as a "personal view” of someone who was "outside the government".

"The speech may be meant to be used as material for discussion, but it is a view, not a policy.

Asked what he meant by saying that Mohamad's speech was heavy, Annuar said: "All of it was heavy. He (Tok Mat) said that Umno's performance in the government was unsatisfactory. That is heavy.

“It is a view that can be debated when the Youth, Women and Puteri wings discuss it tomorrow (today, at their AGMs),” the Ketereh Umno chief said.

“For me, I would want to know more. What shows that Umno's performance in the government is unsatisfactory? What is it based on? What is the fact? Which portfolio that Umno holds is below par?

However, Annuar said, perhaps Mohamad’s speech was meant to be a topic of debate and that it was merely a view and not a policy. - Mkini