KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has alluded to possible disciplinary action against senior party members and leaders who acted against the party’s interest following the recent general action.
In a fiery address at the Umno annual general assembly today, Zahid said these members had supported Barisan Nasional’s political opponents in Perikatan Nasional (PN) without approval.
This broke the party consensus at a time when Umno was still negotiating the formation of a government after the general election.
“Just wait, the disciplinary board will take action on this, so just you wait,” he said to thunderous applause from thousands of Umno delegates gathered at the Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre here today.
Zahid said these party leaders had kept harping on Umno’s earlier policy of “No Anwar, No DAP”, referring to the decision made at a previous general assembly not to have any political cooperation with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, Zahid said these leaders, who wanted Umno to join forces with PN, had forgotten that Umno had also made a previous decision of “No Bersatu” in rejecting political cooperation with the party led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as well.
Zahid did not name anyone in his speech who had acted against Umno’s interests, but behind closed doors in a pre-assembly briefing three days ago, he named 10 BN MPs who signed statutory declarations supporting Muhyiddin to be prime minister following the general election.
One of these names was Umno’s Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who has also been cited in speculations as a leading figure in moves against Zahid and to side with PN.
Hishammuddin, however, has repeatedly denied such involvement in any negotiations with either PH or PN, stressing that he will remain with Umno.
Zahid yesterday said he forgave the 10, acknowledging that the 10 had “made a mistake” due to the unpredictability of the situation then.
However, he also said the BN disciplinary council would be “monitoring” them. – The Vibes, January 13, 2023
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