PKR’s Hassan says Anwar not likely to push Umno out

 Hassan Karim says it was not appropriate for Umno to make threats against Anwar Ibrahim, who remains appreciative of the party's contributions.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim of PKR says Umno has three options in its challenge to the Anwar Ibrahim government.

PETALING JAYA:

Umno does not need to wait to be sacked from government if it wanted to challenge the Anwar Ibrahim government, says Hassan Karim of PKR.

He said Umno has at least three options: getting Barisan Nasional’s 30 MPs to retract support for the coalition government led by Anwar; instructing the party’s ministers to resign; or tabling a no-confidence motion against Anwar at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Hassan, an outspoken member of PKR, took issue with a challenge by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his critics, meaning Pakatan Harapan, to sack Umno from the coalition government. Zahid has also dared the critics to table a no-confidence motion against Anwar.

Hassan, who is Pasir Gudang MP, said it was not appropriate to make such threats at the Umno general assembly, Berita Harian reported.

However, he said Anwar, who is PH chairman, could not bring himself to dismiss ministers from Umno or kick the party out of government as he remained appreciative of the party’s contributions.

Hassan said Umno should remember that the unity government is not an official coalition and that any party could withdraw support at any time.

On Zahid’s threats, Hassan was quoted as saying: “Zahid will crow in front of three million Umno members, but don’t forget the country has 33 million citizens.”

Hassan said it would be better for Zahid and Umno to emulate former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli who resigned as a federal minister after he was defeated at the PKR polls.

Last night, Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, reiterated Umno’s pledge to stick with the government until its term ends, despite taking subtle jabs at Anwar. - FMT