ALOR GAJAH – Umno has yet to decide whether to work with any party or contest independently in the Melaka state election, said its deputy president, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan.
Mohamad, who is also Umno’s election director, said that what is important now is that the party be prepared to face any eventuality in the polls.
“Let’s not expect outside help for us to win. We must build our own internal strength,” he told reporters, after a meeting with the Melaka Umno machinery here tonight.
Also present were state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Asked about the willingness of Melaka Perikatan Nasional (PN) to hold talks with Umno to avoid three-cornered fights during the polls, Mohamad said that it is up to Melaka Umno.
“It is up to the state Umno, and it will need to propose to central Umno as it cannot make its own decision. Must get approval from central (Umno). If central (Umno) says okay then it’s okay (to work with state PN),” he said.
He said that the party machinery at the polling district centre level had been instructed to make preparations, from tomorrow, to face the election.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said that the memberships of Sg Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Pantai Kundor assemblyman Datuk Nor Azman Hassan have been automatically revoked after the duo was seen to be aligning with the opposition.
He said that the matter was stipulated in the amendment to the party’s constitution, made at the Umno General Assembly last year.
A notification letter on the revocation will be handed to Idris and Nor Azman in the near future.
Rauf, who is also state assembly speaker, today announced that Melaka Governor Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, had agreed to dissolve the state assembly on Monday, thus making way for a state election. – Bernama, October 6, 2021
