Malaysia

Umno leaders not looking to jump on the Bersatu bandwagon: Annuar

Ketereh MP also calls on members to support Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in carrying out full term as president

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 18 Jan 2021 2:16PM

Umno leaders not looking to jump on the Bersatu bandwagon: Annuar — Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa says Umno needs to think about which party is the most strategic for it to work with, as the reality is there needs to be cooperation. – ALIF OMAR/The Vibes pic, January 18, 2021

by Amar Shah Mohsen

KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Annuar Musa has rubbished claims of Umno leaders wanting to abandon the party for Bersatu, despite rumours that certain members of the Barisan Nasional lynchpin are looking to jump ship.

The Ketereh MP, in a series of tweets today, said Umno should instead be thinking of which party to cooperate with moving forward, and that party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should be allowed to complete his term as party president, despite calls for him to quit.

“What we need to think about now is which party is the most strategic for us to work together with, to ensure our agenda of championing the rakyat is implemented.

“Umno accepts the reality that there needs to be cooperation. The question is, with who?”

Tiada sebab untuk menyokong parti lain.Yang perlu di fikirkan ialah siapa pilihan paling strategik utk BERKERJASAMA bagi mempastikan agenda membela rakyat terlaksana.UMNO TERIMA HAKIKAT PERLUNYA KITA BERGABUNG TENAGA..CUMA DGN SIAPA? https://t.co/gbjW2HCMK2
— Annuar Musa (@AnnuarMusa) January 18, 2021

Annuar added that, despite views of wanting Zahid to “rest”, he feels the Umno president should be allowed to see out his term as per the party constitution.

“Whatever it is, 2021 is (Umno’s) election year. Let the normal process play its course. In the meantime, let us work together to improve our party’s situation.”

Annuar, a vocal supporter of an Umno pact with Bersatu, led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had earlier said Umno is currently split into three factions: those who reject Bersatu, fence-sitters and those who support Muhyiddin’s party.

Zahid, on the other hand, has had a tumultuous tenure as party chief since BN lost the 14th general election in 2018.

Umno elections are expected to be held by June this year but, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the party may have no choice but to postpone polls by up to 18 months, according to Article 10.16 of its constitution.

Umno delaying its elections is not unprecedented. It had last postponed party polls in 2016 by 18 months. – The Vibes, January 18, 2021