[UPDATED] Jan 31 for decision on whether Umno will cut ties with Bersatu

KUALA LUMPUR – After a meeting that lasted hours, the Umno Supreme Council will only decide whether to sever ties with Bersatu on January 31 during the party’s annual general assembly.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said in a statement that the council discussed in detail all the motions that were brought up by the 189 Umno divisions that had convened over the past few days.

He said the meeting discussed several motions that were brought up by the majority of Umno divisions.

These motions are:

– Defending the cooperation with PAS through Muafakat Nasional, taking into account the unity sentiment that has been built between both parties for 22 months as opposition.

– To sever ties with Bersatu ahead of the 15th general election.

– Urging for the general election to be held before the end of the first quarter of this year to enable a new mandate for the people depending on circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shahril added that these motions brought up by party divisions were due to several factors.

“These motions will touch on policy matters and basic approaches that will bring great impact to the future of the party and country.

“The Umno general assembly being held on January 31 is in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, whereby motions by party divisions will be carried forth during the assembly.”

He said the meeting decided to increase the strength of the party’s machinery in all states in an effort to aid flood victims during and after the disaster.

“For that purpose, the party’s Squad Sayang Wanita and Squad Sabil Pemuda have already been deployed and will be boosted.”

He said in an effort to aid all works and delivery of aid to flood victims, a special Umno team will be formed and shared by Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

He added that the decision to switch the Barisan Nasional secretary-general that has been assumed traditionally by the Umno secretary-general has received verbal agreement from BN component-party presidents and will be confirmed at the next BN Supreme Council meeting.

It was expected that the Umno Supreme Council would make a decisive call on its political cooperation with Bersatu in the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition.

The widening rift with Bersatu surfaced after 143 of the 191 Umno division heads agreed with a proposal to reject the party led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Umno’s infighting over support for the present Bersatu-helmed administration also took an ugly turn when Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa was removed as secretary-general for BN and Muafakat Nasional (MN) on Monday.

The decision to replace Annuar came after several Umno leaders and warlords demanded he leave the party and join Bersatu over his adamant defence of the PN administration. – The Vibes, January 7, 2021