Call special Umno assembly on PH pact, says division chief

 

Batu division leader Yahya Abas Mat Ghani with Annuar Musa of Ketereh and Tajuddin Abdul Rahman of Pasir Salak at a press conference on moves to form a new federal government.

KUALA LUMPUR: A special Umno general assembly should be held to discuss whether to enter an alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a new federal government, according to an Umno divisional chief.

Batu division leader Yahya Abas Mat Ghani said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi cannot act at will on forming an alliance with other groupings, Bernama reported.

Speaking at a press conference attended by several Umno divisional leaders, Yahya said most Umno division chiefs were willing to be in the opposition rather than form a government with other parties.

He said a group of Umno division chiefs felt that internal discussions should be carried out before any decision is made about an alliance between Barisan Nasional (BN) and other parties to form a government.

Zahid is chairman of BN, which comprises Umno, MCA, MIC and PBRS and other smaller parties as affiliates.

Yahya said Zahid cannot act at will because the formation of a coalition government would require the consent of many parties, including other MPs from BN.

“We have also decided at the last Umno general assembly to reject Anwar Ibrahim and PH. No Anwar, No DAP. That was the decision, so if there is any coalition to be formed with PH or PN (Perikatan Nasional), it should be discussed among ourselves.

“The president should bring the matter to the Supreme Council meeting first, then the BN meeting and discuss it with BN MPs,” he said.

Zahid must go, says dropped candidate Annuar

Separately, Ketereh Umno division chief Annuar Musa said the majority of divisional chiefs wanted Zahid to step down as party president.

Annuar, who was dropped from the BN general election candidate list, said Umno had fielded 80% fresh faces but the people still rejected them because they did not want Zahid whom they viewed as dominating the party.

“We have to accept the reality of our defeat because the president controls the party, not the poster boy (Ismail Sabri Yaakob). Zahid has to accept the fact that he is a liability to Umno. For the sake of Umno’s survival, Zahid has to step down,” he said. - FMT