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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has taken aim at fellow party members who are in the cabinet for supporting Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional government.
Nazri, who is a former minister himself, said these individuals appear more concerned about their personal interests than the party’s.
Without naming anyone, the Padang Rengas MP said he understands the stand taken by some of these leaders, pointing to the privileges enjoyed by ministers and their deputies.
“This is a problem for us because they don’t seem to be on the same page as the party. I understand (their position), and I don’t want to get in their way, because I was a minister myself. It was fun.
“But now that I am not, I have to drive my own car. Even my motorcade privilege is no more. Perhaps, this is why some of them want to deny the demands of the party divisions,” he told a press conference at the Umno headquarters here today.
He was referring to the call by a majority of Umno divisions for the party to withdraw support for Muhyiddin and PN ahead of the 15th general election.
“It is clear that there are Umno ministers and deputy ministers who are reluctant (to withdraw support) because they know they will lose their ministerial income.
“But, it’s okay. We just can’t listen to them, because they seem to have self-interest, above the party’s.”
Among the Umno cabinet members who have expressed support for Muhyiddin as prime minister is Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The Ketereh MP, on several occasions, had declared his support as Barisan Nasional secretary-general, a post he was recently sacked from.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, meanwhile, has said those pushing for polls during the Covid-19 pandemic are irresponsible.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein last week urged Umno not to make rash decisions based merely on emotions, after it was rumoured that the party is withdrawing support for the government. – The Vibes, January 12, 2021
