Don’t apply a double standard, Umno man tells Amanah

 Is political cooperation principled when it benefits your side, but undignified when others do it, asks Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

Shamsul Anuar Nasarah reminded Amanah that Umno had cooperated to form the current government out of respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes.

PETALING JAYA:

Amanah’s leaders should look in the mirror before accusing their colleagues in the unity government of lacking self-respect, says Umno supreme council member Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

Responding to an accusation from Amanah of Barisan Nasional’s hypocrisy in remaining in the government while criticising it, Shamsul said Umno had cooperated to form the current government out of respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes.

“Cooperation does not mean losing your dignity. Politics is about principles, the public interest and national stability,” he wrote in an online post.

“The ones with no self-respect are those who are quick to insult others but fail to respect differences in opinion.”

Earlier today, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad had said BN leaders unhappy with the unity government should leave the Cabinet rather than wait for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to sack them.

He called them unprincipled, saying that they “want to have it both ways – remain in the government, but also criticise it”.

Shamsul, who is also deputy home minister, said Umno and BN had the right to choose their next moves based on political realities.

He urged Amanah not to practise a double standard. “Is political cooperation principled when it benefits your side, but undignified when others do it?” Shamsul said.

“Amanah shouldn’t be too quick to call others unprincipled when its political dealings have not been free from compromise.” - FMT