KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu has confirmed Umno’s intention of severing ties with the party for the upcoming general election via a letter dated February 26 from its president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a statement this morning, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin noted that Umno has, however, agreed to support Perikatan Nasional (PN) until the dissolution of Parliament.
Hamzah said the Bersatu’s political bureau, which is chaired by party president and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, discussed the issue in its meeting yesterday, but the party’s stand on the matter will only be decided later today at its supreme council meeting.
“We will then discuss our stand during the next PN supreme council meeting with our components PAS, STAR, SAPP and Gerakan,” he said.
The relationship between Umno and Bersatu has soured in the past few months, with the former supposedly unhappy at having to play second fiddle in the government and not being given enough important positions in the cabinet.
In January, a couple of Umno MPs withdrew their support for Muhyiddin after most party divisions nationwide resolved to cut ties with Bersatu – effectively causing the prime minister to lose his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin, however, has remained as prime minister after a nationwide emergency was declared and a new sitting of Parliament, which would have likely raised fresh challenges to Muhyiddin’s tenure, was averted on the pretext of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On February 19 at its Supreme Council meeting in Janda Baik, Pahang, Umno decided to formally end its alliance with Bersatu and PN as soon as the current state of emergency ends. – The Vibes, March 4, 2021
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