The Umno Supreme Council today decided that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the BN-led federal government and Pakatan Harapan opposition bloc is not to be extended any further after its deadline this July.
In a statement, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan also announced that the party would hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on May 14 to amend Umno's constitution concerning the time period for party elections.
He said the decision was made during the party leadership's meeting held earlier today.
"The Umno Supreme Council, in a meeting chaired by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (above) today, has made several decisions.
"Number one, the position of the MOU between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan, which ends this July 31, 2022, it has been decided that this agreement is not to be continued any further," he said.
Ahmad said Umno also decided that the government's plan to table the anti-party hopping bill must go ahead without compromising on any attempts against it or to change the meaning of the law.
DAP extends olive branch
The country has seen a longstanding debate between the government and opposition on the MOU that was signed between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the four Harapan leaders on Sept 13, 2021.
The deal was signed to restore political stability to the country after another change in government in August of that year, in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree for more bipartisanship.
It covers the strengthening of the Covid-19 plan, governance transformation, parliamentary reforms, ensuring judicial independence, The Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the formation of a steering committee.
It included a conditional promise by Harapan to not oust Ismail Sabri nor block Budget 2022.
Putrajaya, under the MOU, had promised not to dissolve Parliament until at least July 31, 2022, in order to have enough time to implement various reforms sought by Pakatan Harapan in exchange for the opposition not obstructing key government agendas.
As its deadline nears, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke was seen extending an olive branch to Ismail Sabri to sign a second MOU, following mounting pressure on the prime minister from within his party, particularly from the faction aligned with Zahid to dissolve Parliament.
Loke said the prime minister could ignore pressure from Zahid's camp for snap polls with Harapan's support and have Parliament serve out its full term until 2023.
Zahid, however, dismissed this proposal, claiming that the second MOU was only meant to give Harapan time to restratagise and avoid defeat if polls are held this year.
While Ismail Sabri said he would consider extending the memorandum, he signalled his willingness to dissolve Parliament during the Umno general assembly.
Addressing delegates at the assembly, he said they wouldn't wait one second longer - after discussions - if Umno and BN's victory was assured. - Mkini
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