KUALA LUMPUR – There is no need to revive something that was banned in 1988, said party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi amid talks of a revival of an “old Umno” headed by Gua Musang MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
“There is no new or old Umno. We take in all views, including from veterans. I don’t think there is a need for enthusiasm to revive a party that was banned in 1988.
“That is the spirit that needs to be injected into the current Umno. Let us unite so that we can move in the same direction. Not only Umno, but Barisan Nasional must be strengthened.
“It is time we stop our differences in political ideologies for the sake of our country,” said Zahid.
Bernama reported him as saying this after surveying a vaccination programme with Parit Sulong MP Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad in Zahid’s Bagan Datuk constituency, 110 km from Ipoh.
On September 21, Tengku Razaleigh had expressed hopes of reviving the “old Umno” and welcomed those who were in support.
Meanwhile, Zahid said the existence of too many political parties has the people fed up, as differing opinions have wrought uncertainties on the country’s economy.
“As a democratic country, one is free to form any association, organisation or political party. But if our country has too many political parties, there will no longer be a dominant party that is able to form a government.”
This comes after a political crisis in Melaka was triggered when four reps pulled their support for Umno’s chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. The two Umno men – Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Datuk Nor Azman Hassan – were sacked from the party as a result.
Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad was also removed from Bersatu while Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee remains an independent. – The Vibes, October 9, 2021
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