KUALA LUMPUR – Is the writing on the wall for Muafakat Nasional? Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi seems to think so.
“If what netizens are saying is right, that Umno has been betrayed, then it is best for us to contest solo (in the next general election) under the Barisan Nasional banner.”
In an interview with My TV Online three days ago, Zahid said seats are a “free-for-all”, and negotiations to form the government can be conducted after the election results are out.
“If we want to form a government, we will have to wait until after the election results. We will then know how many seats each party has, and then, we can negotiate.”
He issued a “battle cry” on Facebook today, warning Umno’s opponents not to underestimate the party’s strength and its grassroots.
Umno will defend all the federal and state seats it won in the previous election. There will be no compromise.”
PAS’ political cooperation with Umno has been frayed, with the Islamist party appearing to side with Perikatan Nasional during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as prime minister.
Yesterday, PN chief Muhyiddin announced that the pact’s seat allocation in the peninsula will involve only Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan.
The Bersatu president said he is unsure if Umno intends to cooperate with PN.
“We have not received any sign on whether it (Umno) wants to cooperate or not,” he told a press conference, adding that the BN lynchpin’s participation does not matter, as PN will make its own decisions. – The Vibes, October 1, 2021
