Divided Umno can’t guarantee stable govt, says Shafie

 

Warisan president Shafie Apdal says many problems cannot be solved at state level but need federal action.

PONTIAN: Warisan president Shafie Apdal says there is no guarantee that Barisan Nasional (BN) can form a stable government in Johor, describing its lynchpin Umno as “a divided party”.

In a press conference today, Shafie said Umno was led by a leader who wanted to become prime minister, referring to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, while there were various factions in the party vying for power.

“We are aware that there are some who state that they (BN) want to have a stable government. How sure are you that when you vote for BN there will be a stable government. Have you seen what is happening in Umno?

“It’s a divided group there. We have the court cluster, the cluster that wants to be prime minister, the cluster that wants to stay as prime minister.

“There’s no guarantee that this country will be stable, we have seen that. BN ruled for many years but what happened to the country? I know there was development, but it’s not on the party, it’s on the leadership of the party,” said Shafie, who was once an Umno vice-president.

He said Sabah-based Warisan was heading into the Johor state polls hoping it could form a strong opposition, but the party’s aim was to take power in Putrajaya come GE15.

He said there were problems in Johor that could not be resolved by the state government but must be taken care of at federal level, including the rise in food prices and closure of the border with Singapore.

“Johoreans have been stuck in Singapore, making a living. For two years they couldn’t come back here to meet their child or spouse. This can’t be resolved by the state government.

“But at the same time there are some leaders in the (federal) government who can go for holidays in Istanbul, Dubai and London, and who can hold meetings around the world,” he said in a jab at Cabinet ministers.

The former Sabah chief minister criticised BN for calling state elections in Johor and Melaka and questioned if the Perak or Kedah state assemblies would be next to be dissolved.

“If the intention is to stabilise the government, then just dissolve Parliament and call for GE15. Why dissolve only at the state level?” - FMT