KUALA LUMPUR – Umno is putting its ducks in a row to take over the country’s leadership as it pushes for a no-confidence vote against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when Parliament reconvenes in the next few weeks.
Earlier this afternoon, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi roped in a number of Supreme Council members, and had planned to call in the party's parliamentarians in stages to gain their pledges of support and break its alliance with Perikatan Nasional (PN) before the August 1 deadline set during its general assembly earlier.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Zahid received 30 signatures from 36 Umno MPs to pull out support for the ruling coalition headed by Muhyiddin-led Bersatu.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Zahid had called in at least 10 parliamentarians to the Umno headquarters in Menara Dato Onn this afternoon.
A source told the daily that his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan were also present at the series of meetings.
“The president and deputy had presented a motion to the Umno Supreme Council to withdraw support from the government as soon as possible.
“Their excuse is that Umno needs to lead (the government) although many believe this is not the right time.”
It is understood that Puteri Umno chief Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan, Rompin MP Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Melaka state Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh were present at the party’s headquarters this afternoon, as witnessed by a source.
The source said the party’s top brass is calling council members in stages due to movement restrictions.
“So they have called some council members to seek agreements. Those who agree need to sign the motion.”
However, not all are in line with Zahid’s wishes as Umno’s Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz today made a U-turn announcing he is back to supporting Muhyiddin.
“There were some who disagreed because the council's proposal depends on the parliamentarians. If the parliamentarians do not agree to pull out from the PN government, it means that the council’s decision had no effect,” the source said.
The Vibes had reported on June 10 that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was being presented as an option for prime minister.
Hishammuddin was to be named deputy prime minister, taking over from Muhyiddin when the latter steps down in the near future.
While Umno members can digest his candidacy, they cannot stomach the naming of Bersatu’s Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, a former PKR man who was one of the main architects of the Sheraton Move that ended Pakatan Harapan’s administration, as deputy prime minister.
Meanwhile, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Puad Zarkashi said the party was supposed to “divorce” PN by leaving the federal government on August 1, and not in the next election as claimed by Nazri Aziz, reported FMT.
Puad noted that Nazri likely did not know about the resolution made by Umno during its general assembly as the latter was not present when the party decided to part with the government led by Muhyiddin.
“The motion was debated by all who spoke during the assembly, which included state Umno chiefs. It was then reiterated by the Umno president in his wind-up speech and was agreed upon unanimously by those present.
“The delegates also gave the mandate to the president to discuss with the party’s Supreme Council members to see if there are other dates besides August 1 for Umno’s exit from PN.
“So, the general assembly not only resolved to sever all cooperation with Bersatu in the next polls, but also pull the plug on the PN government completely,” he said in a statement, as quoted by FMT.
Meanwhile, the horse trading continues as individuals in Umno, Bersatu, and PAS try to strike up new alliances. PAS has 18 seats; Bersatu, however, with the internal bickering involving camps aligned to both Azmin and Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, may see its influence halved as 10 of its 31 seats are MPs aligned to Azmin.
Frantic meetings are being held tonight on the eve of the enhanced movement control order in parts of the Klang Valley to ensure that alliances are made within PN.
This is expected to be followed by talks with PKR, which has 35 seats and persuasive power over Amanah, which has 11 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Achilles’ heel is DAP, which comes with 42 seats, but is seen as a poison chalice by Umno that has been consistent in its “no to DAP” stance. – The Vibes, July 2, 2021
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