KUALA LUMPUR – Ahead of the party’s general assembly this weekend, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is calling for calm among its members over the ongoing political manoeuvring.
In a thinly veiled attack believed to be against Umno members who support its alliance with Bersatu in the Perikatan Nasional government, Zahid said that he is aware of what the “brokers” are planning.
“Their tricks and schemes, all their hypocrisy and ploys are being monitored and are on our radar.
“These (brokers) are not many, but what they want to do to Umno is very unacceptable," he said in a Facebook post today.
Umno, he said, cannot be bought or used as a tool to bargain for power or positions.
“Umno will not be sidelined just because of arguments brought by two-faced individuals. Umno is a party that belongs to the people and its millions of members. Not owned by any individual to be bought or sold.”
Their tricks and schemes, all their hypocrisy and ploys are being monitored and are on our radar.
He also promised to defend Umno following concerns raised by party members over the matter.
“Some of our members are worried that I, as Umno president, am not ‘alert’ to their plans.
“I am ‘alert’. I was even ‘alert’ to the increasingly fierce negative perceptions against me,” he said, alluding to his ongoing corruption trial.
Zahid said he will continue to face this challenge prudently for the sake of race, religion and the party’s integrity.
His comments come ahead of the general assembly scheduled on March 27 and 28.
Among concerns expected to be addressed at the assembly are the party’s move to cut ties with Bersatu just before the 15th general election.
Several factions in Umno, including the “cabinet faction”, will be expected to oppose the decision to cut ties with Bersatu.
Another issue expected to be brought up is Umno’s possible political cooperation with other parties. – The Vibes, March 23, 2021
