Cut ties with Perikatan or incur grassroots’ wrath, Nur Jazlan warns Umno

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno's top leadership has no choice but to sever ties with Perikatan Nasional (PN) before the general election or face the wrath of its grassroots members and risk being voted out in the next party polls.

Pulai Umno chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed told The Vibes that with some 75% of the party’s divisions choosing not to cooperate with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s party, it will be foolish to not heed their calls.

He said this ahead of the all-important Umno Supreme Council meeting tomorrow, in which members are expecting a definitive decision on Bersatu.

“The overwhelming number of resolutions to reject PN comes from the realisation that they are not sincere after the Sabah election. Why should the grassroots carry a ‘biawak hidup’ like them into the next general election, especially in terms of machinery and votes?

(Mendukung biawak hidup is a Malay saying that means “helping someone who will eventually bring trouble to oneself”)

“The hands of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other Supreme Council members are tied. They have to do it (cut ties). There are no two ways about it.

“They must not forget that they will still rely on votes in the coming party election later this year, so they cannot force the (political) cooperation without the blessings of the divisions and grassroots.”

He was commenting on the decision by 143 out of the 191 Umno division chiefs not to cooperate with Bersatu in the next election, which was communicated via a WhatsApp chat group to Zahid on Sunday.

Nur Jazlan’s division is said to be among the first to sign the resolution during its annual general meeting over the weekend, with the outspoken leader saying cooperation with PN will only taint Umno’s reputation and cause it to lose more non-Malay support.

Whatever Umno’s decision tomorrow, it is expected to upset at least certain quarters within the party, with several leaders still hoping to work together with Bersatu and Muhyiddin.

Among them is Putrajaya Umno chief Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who had said on Sunday he hoped the two parties will reunite, adding that those against the cooperation are leaders who lost in the last election, possibly referring to Nur Jazlan, who lost his Pulai seat in 2018.

Umno Supreme Council member and Keterah Umno chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa is also seen as an ardent supporter of Bersatu and Muhyiddin.

Consider cooperation with PKR, DAP, be it before or after election

On his statement on Sunday of Umno possibly working together with either PKR or DAP to shore up non-Malay support, Nur Jazlan said Umno may be forced to look for alternative political allies should it cut ties with PN.

He said this could either be done before the election or after polling results are announced, the latter of which will allow Umno to consider its position and all possible options.

“It will be difficult for Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) to obtain a majority in the next election, so we need to look for other partners. Whether it is PKR or DAP is beside the point. The point is we reject Bersatu and PN.”

Asked if cutting ties with PAS will be wise, Nur Jazlan said BN is known to be a more complete unit and is accepted by the people nationwide, as opposed to the PN coalition, which comprises the Islamist party and Bersatu.

Last Sunday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said his party does not want to be part of any political polemics that will threaten the country’s unity, stability, peace and economy.

PAS had called on PN allies Umno and Bersatu to be tolerant and take lessons from past events to continue to provide good leadership and integrity.

“PAS is dedicated to empowering Muafakat Nasional, as well as defending the PN government.”

On a separate matter, Nur Jazlan said unlike previously, when BN would dominate the elections and prime ministers are usually appointed from the sitting Umno president, the political situation today is more fluid.

As such, he said the people should lower their expectations in regard to whom they wish to lead the country, with no single party now likely to obtain a simple majority to form government.

“The public just have to vote for the party they support, and let the party sort out the government after the election.

“Gone are the days of a formidable coalition like BN. Now we will see more loose coalitions like we are seeing today.” – The Vibes, January 5, 2021