KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Umno said today it is considering to withdraw its support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact and will push instead for the effort to register its alliance with Islamist party PAS, Muafakat Nasional, to be registered as an official political entity.
The decision was made at an Umno Political Bureau meeting that took place earlier this evening at the Putra World Trade Centre in the capital, where it also decided on issuing new conditions to the PN government to command its political cooperation.
“Umno is considering withdrawing their support for Perikatan Nasional and will give new conditions to the PN government to continue a political cooperation, through a written agreement to be carried out as soon as possible,” said a statement by party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The statement was issued right after the bureau meeting which was chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, with fellow Supreme Council members, in the presence of Umno’s Liaison Body Chairman.
Umno’s statement also stated how the topic of registering MN as an official political entity will be proposed to MN’s Steering Committee by the party.
The party then declared their commitment to keep on championing the people’s needs and wants while ensuring the Covid-19 pandemic is handled properly.
“Umno is of the view that political stability is of the utmost importance and efforts to develop the economy must be enhanced.
“Every decision that Umno makes is for the benefit of the rakyat, religion, race, and country,” read their statement.
Earlier today, Opposition Leader and PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, where he had declared to the King to have a majority of more than 120 Members of Parliament backing him as their leader.
The Palace later issued a statement saying Anwar did claim to have the majority support but said he stopped short of providing a list of names of his backers.
Anwar had said that the Agong will be meeting all heads of political parties to receive their input on the purported majority support for the Port Dickson MP.
In response Zahid had said earlier today the decision whether or not to support Anwar was not on the agenda for tonight’s bureau meeting, adding how he has yet to receive an official notification from the Royal Palace summoning his presence.
Zahid also claimed to be ignorant over the possibility of several Umno lawmakers throwing their support for Anwar, also denying knowledge of the list of names purportedly supporting the PKR head.
Back in July, Zahid had announced that Umno would not join Perikatan Nasional as a coalition member, and instead focus on their alliance with PAS.
The announcement to not join PN was made two days after former Umno president and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was found guilty on all seven of his charges in his SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption trial.
