KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has always been consistent in its stance against any political cooperation with DAP and PKR.
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Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said Umno’s political bureau and its Supreme Council had never decided on any form of negotiation with either party.
“In any open or closed event with party leaders from all levels, including recently, the party president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) has reiterated that he will not work with DAP.
“In fact, the Supreme Council remains with its party policy accepted during the 2019 Umno General Assembly, which is to not cooperate with (PKR president) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP.
Umno adopting a “political ceasefire”, says Zahid Hamidi
“As long as the policy does not change, the entire leadership will continue to adhere to the decision,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Shahril said Umno had the chance to cooperate with DAP during the Perak Menteri Besar tussle, which did not happen.
He also added that any claim of multiple attempts to topple the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is inaccurate, as Umno Members of Parliament had supported and voted in favour of the 2021 Budget at all levels of debate in Parliament.
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Such support was still expressed, he said, even though there was clear dissatisfaction from Umno on various issues, including on political ties between Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) or on government policies.
“Therefore, it is clear that Umno had supported the PN government for the benefit of the country and its people, still plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
On allegations of the party president’s “flip-flop” decisions regarding the Muafakat Nasional pact, Shahril said the Umno leadership had stressed that it was consistent in its stand to strengthen MN and ties with Pas, without becoming a component of PN.
“This stance is firm, clear and consistent,” he added.
Shahril’s statement comes after allegations by Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who was removed as Barisan Nasional’s secretary-general on Tuesday.
Annuar had claimed that Umno was currently preparing to work with DAP to form a new government, and said “several top Umno leaders” had met with DAP to discuss a “new political movement”.
The Umno Supreme Council had, after a meeting late Wednesday night, decided that it will raise a motion to sever ties with Bersatu during its annual general assembly on Jan 31.-NST