PETALING JAYA: Claims by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of discussions on possible cooperation with Umno are a “political stunt” to keep his leadership alive, says Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
“It is a mere political stunt and we know why.
“It is because his party leadership is in chaos as two-thirds have left.
“PKR only has Tian Chua left as the vice-president as three others had left or resigned.
“Anwar is just looking to keep his leadership alive, ” the Umno Youth chief said when contacted on Tuesday (March 16).
Asyraf, who is an Umno supreme council member, said that while Anwar is free to talk to anyone in the party, there are protocols that must be followed.
“Anwar can actually discuss and negotiate with anyone from Umno, be it from the bottom or right up to the president.
“What is important is that whatever decision pertaining to policy, especially such a huge one, can only be decided at the supreme council meeting, ” he added.
Asyraf, who is also in Umno’s political bureau, said talk of cooperation with PKR was never raised during the supreme council or bureau meetings.
“Until today, we have not discussed or deliberated on whether to change our position of not cooperating with Pakatan Harapan, especially Anwar and DAP, ” he added.
He also noted that any leaders from Umno, even the president, had to get the party’s mandate to hold talks with regard to cooperation with other parties, as was done when Umno was in discussions with PAS to form Muafakat Nasional in 2019.
“At that time, Umno gave certain individuals in the party and president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the mandate to hold talks with PAS, ” he added when asked to comment on Anwar’s recent claims that initial talks had begun with Umno on possible cooperation.
Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, when contacted, said he was unaware of such a meeting as claimed by Anwar.
“If there was one, it did not include me and the meeting may have been between Zahid and Najib, ” he said when contacted.
In January, Nazri, who is Padang Rengas Umno division chief, announced his withdrawal of support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional administration.
On Monday (March 15), Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan also said he was unaware of any unofficial negotiations and discussions between the party and PKR.- The Star