KUALA LUMPUR – Former Barisan Nasional secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the nation's largest Malay-based party has been split into three factions.
The Ketereh MP told Mingguan Malaysia that the three camps comprised those who rejected political cooperation, those who were fence sitters, and those who supported Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's leadership.
However, Annuar said he was putting all his efforts to keep the party’s unity intact, although he was perceived to be friendly with Bersatu.
“It is true that Umno is now divided. (But) I won't allow it. That is why I am fighting. That is why I brought about the idea so that Umno members can begin to think.
“The problem now is a lot of manipulation is done at the leadership level, but the information is not fully reaching the grassroots,” he was quoted as saying.
“We (the leadership) use the grassroots to support our ways and ideas, but we don’t explain everything to the Umno grassroots.”
Annuar, who was recently ousted as BN and Muafakat Nasional secretary-general, said rumours of the proposed cooperation with DAP and the details of the negotiations with Bersatu were among the matters that were not explained.
He said the misunderstanding on the situation occurred because a group of leaders avoided locking horns with sentiments carried by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his closest allies.
“Umno is a conservative party. That is why there will be people who would burn themselves if needed, including myself who would throw in slightly different ideas.
“But I believe there will gradually be changes as there is more awareness and information available. The people at the bottom are honest and sincere.”
Annuar said there were many leaders that shared his opinion, including Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Khairy Jamaluddin, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, and Datuk Seri Shamsul Annuar Nasarah, and other senior Umno members.
“But we don’t voice out due to respect, but when it has come to this, there is no back and forth, (but we) try to avoid (conflicts).”
He said the leaders’ refusal to take part in the attack against Bersatu was because the Perikatan Nasional government, if threatened excessively, could retaliate in many ways.
Annuar added Umno’s current leadership should not bring the party to destruction, but unite the Malays.
“I am confident that if we return to play a role with PAS and Bersatu in uniting the Malays, and with the strengths of the Malays, we can unite the people from all races, we can achieve tremendous success.” – The Vibes, January 17, 2021
