KUALA LUMPUR – In a strongly worded resolution, Pulai Umno became the first party division to call for its leaders to quit the Perikatan Nasional ruling government to force a snap election.
Division head Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Free Malaysia Today that delegates at the annual general meeting on Friday unanimously decided that it would be in Umno’s best interest to leave before being blamed for the coalition’s failure to govern.
The resolution said that Umno was worried by PN’s incompetence, the way the country was being run, and the government’s failure to address issues faced by the people.
“This is why we need a general election soon to reset Parliament. We cannot afford to lose the non-Malay votes or even Malay votes. The longer the PN government is in power, Umno will be tainted by its association with them,” he was quoted as saying.
The Johor Umno deputy chief said Umno will lose non-Malay support if it stays in PN.
“It is better for us to look at other options like PKR or DAP to secure the non-Malay votes.”
Nur Jazlan also slammed the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and said that PAS ministers and the Kedah menteri besar were being seen as incompetent.
In the resolution, Pulai Umno described PN’s top leaders as being untrustworthy, with no qualms about ditching their allies for power.
“These senior PN leaders were the same ones who worked with Pakatan Harapan to bring down the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition in the 2018 general election.
“After that, it was this same set of leaders who turned traitor, playing their friends out in PH to cause its downfall and resulting in 22 months of torture for Malaysians.
“We now see their insincerity after 10 months of being in the leadership while riding on our backs. We can see them conniving, moving quietly and openly attacking Umno from all angles, proving their dishonesty and not being a loyal partner,” the resolution stated.
“We fear Umno will be made the black sheep for their failures. The time has come for us to part and continue our political battle in the spirit of BN.
“With this, we also resolve that the traditional parliamentary seat of Pulai and Kempas state constituency be contested by Umno/Barisan Nasional in the next (general) election,” it said.
Pulai is currently held by Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub. The Kempas assemblyman is former menteri besar Datuk Osman Sapian of Bersatu.
Nur Jazlan conceded that if Umno leaves, its Muafakat Nasional pact with PAS will also collapse.
“PN is made up of PAS, Bersatu, and two insignificant Sabah parties. It is very lopsided and cannot get non-Malay support in Sarawak either.
“If Umno stays with PN, we would lend them votes but lose the non-Malay votes because they have rejected PAS and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu,” he said. – The Vibes, January 3, 2021
