KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has questioned his party’s future following its shock decision to pull out of the Perikatan Nasional administration.
He told The Vibes that Umno’s initial plan was to bring down the government led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the hope that the party will take over.
However, he said, this is easier said than done.
“Umno wants to form the government, that is the intention. How do we do it? we (Umno MPs) want to know. We were just told that the matter will be discussed later.”
As the party will need a coalition to form a new government should the PN administration collapse, he expressed curiosity as to who will become its partners.
“If the endgame is to work with PKR and DAP, we will not support it, we can’t work with them.
“Who else can Umno work with to form the government?
“PAS has chosen to support the PN government. So, we might lose PAS as our partner, thus, we can’t get other parties to side with us.”
The Pasir Salak MP highlighted the fact that while he respects Umno’s decision, differences of opinion were apparent at the Supreme Council meet yesterday.
He said he did not get the chance to air his views despite raising his hand about thrice to speak.
“As party members, we accept the party’s decision.
“But, it’s natural in any such meeting for there to be differences of opinion, and in the meeting (yesterday), there were those who disagreed with the idea (to leave PN).”
On his opinion of Umno vice-president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s attendance at Muhyiddin’s televised address this afternoon, in which the prime minister said he will remain in power at least until a vote of confidence is called in the Dewan Rakyat next month, Tajuddin alluded that there may be those doing what they think is best.
“MPs can think for themselves; they don’t follow blindly. So, there are those who probably maintain their stance to support the government because they think it’s the best thing to do.”
On Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s announcement in Parliament on the revocation of emergency ordinances, which has been slammed by some quarters as a betrayal of the king, he said it may have been a mistake.
He said Takiyuddin’s explanation in the House last week was not complete and clear, giving the impression that the government had bypassed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the matter.
I don’t think the government wanted to purposely revoke the ordinances without the Agong’s consent. In such a situation, an apology can be issued, and the Agong, being a gracious monarch, will forgive, I’m sure.”
Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the party is withdrawing its support for the PN administration and Muhyiddin effective immediately, saying statutory declarations by party MPs renouncing their backing for the prime minister have been presented to His Majesty.
Today, however, Muhyiddin maintained that he still commands majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, and that the matter will be put to the test in the House next month. – The Vibes, August 4, 2021
