KUALA LUMPUR – Umno will not take anything less than the prime minister’s post in any future government it forms, insisted deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking at a press conference after officiating at the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings’ meetings this morning, he said the party is not used to playing second fiddle – a role which it has been relegated to under the Perikatan Nasional administration.
“Umno cannot play second fiddle. We must be the parent party that loves all our children. This does not mean we take care of only the Malays. We will take care of all. As a parent with many children, we must love them all and not play favourites.
“We should not have children that we hate, and those that we favour. We have played our part over 60 years (helming the country). Even though we have made mistakes, we try to correct them.”
Asked who will be the party’s prime minister candidate, Mohamad, also fondly known as Tok Mat, told reporters with a straight face: “You are talking to him now.”
The presser – and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan – was shocked into silence, and one could hear a pin drop in the room.
Seconds later, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, Mohamad broke out in laughter, triggering the same from journalists and others present.
“I’m only joking. I like to joke around,” said the Rantau assemblyman.
“Whoever becomes our prime minister candidate, it is up to the party. I’ve said it before, that these sorts of decisions will be made by the party. It is the party’s decision.”
On the next general election, Mohamad stressed that Umno will not contest under the PN banner, but will take the field under Barisan Nasional’s iconic white “dacing” (scales) on a blue background.
He said the party needs a political realignment, and that it must ensure its way forward takes into consideration long-term implications.
Umno – and by extension, BN – should not be pigeonholed as a second-tier leader when the country’s oldest and most dominant Malay-based party is used to being in the driver’s seat, which is apparent when one looks back on its history and how it obtained independence for Malaya in 1957.
The party originally intended to return the mandate to voters after it entered Putrajaya following the controversial Sheraton Move last year.
However, said Mohamad, the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis forced its hand to administer the country.
On his statement that Umno will contest in at least 96 federal seats, he said these constituencies belonged to the party in the first place.
“We had 15 reps who hopped over to join Bersatu, and one who joined (Parti) Warisan (Sabah). You can take the pilot out of the aircraft, but you must remember, the aircraft belongs to us,” he said, referring to the seats.
He added that the decision on the 96 seats was made after taking into account PAS’ traditional constituencies, since the two parties are allies.
However, if the alliance is broken, it is highly likely that Umno will run in more than 100 seats, he said. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
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