KUALA LUMPUR – After close to four hours of deliberations, Umno has decided to continue working with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Perikatan Nasional pact, albeit with conditions.
President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a statement issued early today, said the Supreme Council stands by its initial position to not work with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and opposition party DAP.
However, “Umno MPs will continue to support PN”.
He added that Umno will refine its cooperation with the ruling coalition based on “the values of respect and political consensus”.
The decision is based on the party’s vow to fully heed the decree by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Conference of Rulers for a political ceasefire so as to ensure the country’s stability, said Zahid.
Umno also urged for a national reconciliation effort undertaken by political parties on both sides of the aisle.
It proposed that the government “take a more inclusive approach to transcend differing party ideologies to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, along with its impact on the economy and the resultant hardship faced by the people”.
The statement comes after talks late into the night among Supreme Council members at the World Trade Centre here.
The meeting followed one held among Barisan Nasional MPs at the same venue yesterday afternoon, where the coalition discussed its stance with regard to Muhyiddin’s leadership.
Among the scenarios likely discussed by the Supreme Council is Umno retaining the status quo by backing the prime minister.
Another is to favour Anwar, but on the condition that PKR ally DAP is not in the picture – a proposal mooted by BN adviser Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Umno’s declaration of support for PN comes less than a week after leaders from the party and PAS agreed to have their Muafakat Nasional partnership registered as an official political entity.
It also comes on the heels of the Agong denying Muhyiddin’s bid for emergency rule to contain Covid-19. – The Vibes, October 27, 2020
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