Bersatu pulling a fast one to delay PN govt’s imminent doom?

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin’s statement this morning confirming that Umno wants to sever ties with the party in the next general election raises more questions about Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) possible ploy to maintain its hold on Putrajaya.  

Although Umno has said that it will continue to support the PN government until the dissolution of Parliament, questions still linger about whether the party will stay true to this pledge.

It is understood that communication lines between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Umno are very much open and the situation in terms of political cooperation remains fluid at the moment.

The only sore point in a possible Umno-PH alliance is DAP. Various leaders in Umno, a Malay outfit, have made it abundantly clear that they will not work with the “rocket” party bent on making a “Malaysian Malaysia”.

Assuming Umno flip-flops on its decision and withdraws support for Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, this would see PN’s hold in Parliament with 111 seats dwindle to a mere 76.

This figure does not include the four MPs from Umno’s allies in Barisan Nasional (BN) – MCA (2 seats), MIC (1) and PBRS (1).

Umno currently holds 35 seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

Such a situation will effectively result in a loss of confidence for Muhyiddin, who is Pagoh MP, leading to the collapse of the PN government.

This dangerous possibility may explain PN’s ploy to frantically pinch opposition MPs to cross over, as seen in the recent defections of Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong from PKR to become independents friendly to PN.

It could also point to PN’s underhanded and wily motivation not to reconvene Parliament until the current emergency ends on August 1, as allowing it could pave the way for Muhyuddin’s majority control in the lower house to be challenged.

Earlier today, Hamzah had confirmed Umno’s intention of severing ties with Bersatu for the 15th general election via a letter dated February 26 from its president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Hamzah also noted that Umno has, however, agreed to support PN until the dissolution of Parliament, and that Bersatu’s stand on Umno’s decision will only be made later today at its Supreme Council meeting.

The relationship between Umno and Bersatu has soured in recent months, with the latter seemingly unhappy that it has to play second fiddle in government, especially with inadequate positions in cabinet.

In September last year, opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed to have garnered majority support from among the MPs of the House, saying that he had “strong, formidable and convincing” majority to form a new government.

The Vibes later reported that most of these MPs are from Umno.

Anwar has yet to prove his numbers to date, but claims he has submitted the list of names via legitimate documents to the king to prove he has the numbers. – The Vibes, March 4, 2021

With additional reporting by Amar Shah Mohsen