KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has dismissed calls to extend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the government and opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan.
In a press conference after the Umno general assembly today, Zahid applauded the wisdom of the prime minister to not continue with the MoU but have it still respected by both sides.
This follows calls for a second MoU from DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke, who said it was not the right time to hold a general election due to high Covid-19 infection numbers.
Umno leaders, however, are strongly against the idea.
On the topic of Umno’s candidate for prime minister, Zahid said negotiations will be conducted “when the time comes”. While saying the party “has many candidates”, he stopped short of naming names.
Zahid added that whoever the candidate is, the individual will likely not be promoted as the election “poster boy” following the events that took place after the Johor polls.
Following Barisan Nasional’s landslide victory in Johor, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was sworn in as menteri besar despite earlier confirmation from many Umno leaders that Datuk Hasni Mohammad would continue to helm the government should BN achieve victory.
This led to speculation that the appointment had to do with the cordial relationship Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim shared with Onn Hafiz during the latter’s time as state youth and sports exco.
Earlier today, Zahid ruled out himself and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the government’s top post, saying, “Bossku and I have accepted our fate (that we will never be the next prime minister).” – The Vibes, March 19, 2022
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