KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth Chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has called out on some of his party colleagues and current ally Perikatan Nasional (PN) who have been insisting on non-cooperation with PKR and DAP.
In his fiery opening address at the wing’s annual general assembly this morning, the youth leader claimed that the call against PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP is simply an agenda to protect the self-interest and positions of these individuals.
“Don’t use the term ‘unity of the ummah’ to protect your own weaknesses. Don’t hide behind the slogan of ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ to hide your personal agenda, defending your position.
“Don’t follow Pakatan Harapan’s behaviour of making a lot of promises, but in the end none of them are delivered,” said Asyraf.
The former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department also acknowledged that Umno has never formed a government on its own since the country’s independence.
The party has always kept an open mind and is prepared to cooperate with anyone in the interest of the nation and its people, he said.
He echoed the words of Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who had stressed earlier that Umno, and not Bersatu, has always played the role of uniting Malay-Muslims of the country.
In doing so, Asyraf implied, without naming Bersatu, that the splinter party was formed to replace Umno and had created a new coalition to sideline Barisan Nasional as well as Umno’s cooperation with PAS in Muafakat Nasional (MN).
“We are aware that there is a party that was formed to replace us, which created a new coalition to sideline our coalition. They are sweet-talking to backstabbers (Umno defectors). They talk about honesty but are actually treacherous.
“They speak of being clean and (having) integrity but their actions do not reflect their words. They speak of unity but they are the ones who are plotting to divide us. This is why Umno must not be easily deceived and must know who its friends and enemies are,” he said.
Not reserving his ire to just the party’s supposed allies, Asyraf also called out his own party members and leaders who have received positions under the PN administration, reminding them not to be too greedy and power hungry.
He also took a jab at ally PAS which seems to veer towards backing Bersatu, despite forming the MN coalition earlier.
“To our friend and ally PAS in MN. The Youth wing sincerely expresses that our unity with you is a beautiful dream, something that we all craved for decades. Hold tight to the ties of MN! Don’t let it be torn apart or be torn apart by a third party!
“It is unlikely that this sort of opportunity (to cooperate) will happen again,” said Asyraf. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021