Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has criticised “friends” within the government for allegedly attempting to poach members of his party.
In a statement on Facebook, the Merlimau assemblyperson suggested that Umno and BN reconsider their relationship within the ruling coalition.
“Umno is not a party that can be kicked around; we have our dignity!” he asserted.
However, Akmal did not name parties other than his own in the post.
This comes amid speculation that Umno supreme council member Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz may be planning to join PKR.
Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that he had not received any official notification from Zafrul regarding such a move.
In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh also denied any knowledge of Zafrul’s purported defection.
Speculation surrounding Zafrul arose after Free Malaysia Today quoted sources claiming negotiations were underway for him to join PKR.
It was alleged that the Umno Kota Raja division chief had been earmarked for a role in the Selangor administration, which PKR leads.
Akmal further revealed that similar attempts to recruit Umno members occurred during the previous Perikatan Nasional administration.
“If this happens again, our stance must be firm,” he stressed. – Malaysiakini