KUALA LUMPUR – Umno is eyeing at least 80 seats in the looming general election and is confident of winning 70 of them, said deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
In a video interview with party organ Umno Online yesterday, Mohamad said seat negotiations are ongoing with its Muafakat Nasional partner PAS.
He added that Umno is prepared to go at it alone if it cannot reach a consensus with the islamist party.
Mohamad, who is also Rantau assemblyman, said Barisan Nasional and its lynchpin have its base and the Malay vote will not go to Perikatan Nasional after Bersatu switched sides in February last year.
Bersatu’s decision resulted in the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration after 22 months in government.
The Umno Supreme Council had on February 19 announced it would cut ties with Bersatu come the general election and will only support the PN government until the dissolution of Parliament.
“It is not the decision of one person but the majority. We have to listen to the division chiefs, who have made known their stance. If there is a change in that, we have to revert to the chiefs for another mandate.
“This is the principle of good governance.”
This makes clear that we, as the ‘induk’, are needed, hence, Umno should not ‘berkokok tak tentu arah’ (talk without direction).
His interview comes ahead of the party’s general assembly this weekend.
Meanwhile, he said Umno should always be the parent (induk) and not “anak ayam” in any situation, alluding to the party playing second fiddle since Bersatu and PN came into power.
On some quarters who have raised the sentiment that Umno is weak, he said: “If that is the case, why, every two to three days, we hear of people wanting to work with us?”
“This makes clear that we, as the ‘induk’, are needed, hence, Umno should not ‘berkokok tak tentu arah’ (talk without direction). We should lead our members properly; if there’s a threat, we should move to protect them.
“There is no one or groups insisting we work with certain people. The focus should be to win the general election.”
He said that the current political landscape does not allow for one party to dominate the election, or have enough numbers to form a government.
“After the results are out, we can approach those with a sizeable stake to form a government. More importantly, we must be the ‘controlling stakeholder’.” – The Vibes, March 26, 2021
