KUALA LUMPUR – In keeping with convention, Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders were present at the opening ceremony of the Umno general assembly today, despite some of them having been singled out as backing Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin earlier.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup were present, but MIC was represented by its secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran.
Umno permanent chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin noted the absence of MIC president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan when welcoming the BN component party leaders.
“Welcome to MCA’s Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, ‘towkay lai liao, kamsiah’ (the big boss came, thank you).
“The MIC secretary-general (is here), ‘lu punye towkay mana?’ (where is your boss?)” Badruddin asked.
He also welcomed Arthur, who was made PRBS president recently, succeeding his father Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
“PBRS has stuck with BN through thick and thin. Please send my regards to your father,” Badruddin said to Arthur.
Wee, the Ayer Hitam MP, Saravanan (Tapah), and Arthur (Pensiangan) were named by Zahid as being among the 10 MPs from BN who signed statutory declarations supporting Muhyiddin to be prime minister in attempts to form a new government following the 15th general election in November that yielded a hung Parliament.
According to various reports, Zahid had named them during a closed-door, pre-assembly briefing for delegates on Wednesday.
Another MCA lawmaker who signed the statutory declaration was Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng (Tg Piai).
The remaining MPs are from Umno – Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Datuk Hasni Mohammad (Simpang Renggam), Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu), Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (Tampin), Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (Kuala Pilah), and Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis).
However, Zahid yesterday said he forgave the 10, saying he named them as part of his explanation on what happened behind the scenes during the formation of the unity government.
He also acknowledged that the 10 had “made a mistake” due to the unpredictability of the situation then.
Although Umno is in the unity government under Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, the party did not invite any non-BN leaders to the opening of its general assembly.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the general assembly, for the year 2022, was meant to focus on party and coalition matters only.
Last November’s nationwide polls saw BN’s worst electoral performance since its formation, with the coalition only securing a dismal 30 federal seats to PN’s 74 and PH’s 82. – The Vibes, January 13, 2023
