In a stern reminder, Umno VP tells Perikatan leaders ‘political rewards’ not way to gain legitimacy.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin issued a stern reminder to his Perikatan Nasional (PN) colleagues today that it is not a government mandated by the people, as he criticised the use of “political rewards” to keep the frail coalition intact.
In a sharply worded statement levelled against allies Bersatu, Khaled said PN remains devoid of legitimacy, and that it could only garner public support through good governance and accountability.
Using political rewards in the form of GLC posts and other political appointments with the objective of strengthening Perikatan Nasional is “not the way forward”, said Khaled.
This was his response to Johor Bersatu secretary Mohd Solihan Badri who, in an open letter, wrote, among other matters, that political appointments were necessary to shore up support for PN and unite coalition members in Johor.
Khaled said he has read Solihan’s writings but disagreed with how political appointments were used.
“PN was not established through the people’s mandate. It must put aside all interests except public interest.
“Positions, titles and inducements were not the reason why PN was established. (The coalition’s) goal is to save the country,” he said.
Khaled said Solihan’s piece was meant to remind PN of the fragility of the coalition in Johor. Khaled said he agreed with this assessment.
PN, a loose alliance between Umno, Bersatu, and PAS, was borne out of a power struggle in the then ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, which lost Johor following Bersatu’s defection.
The bloc now has a mere two-seat majority in the Johor state legislative assembly, controlling just 29 out of the 56. Bersatu has 11 state assemblymen while Umno has 16.
The composition makes the alliance frail, Khaled readily admitted. He blasted Bersatu for playing “the numbers game”, calling it a hindrance to the state’s development.
“PN can only function and strengthen at its best in Johor if it can produce a robust grand strategy as to how to unlock the state’s real potential,” he said.
“Johor’s development, with a clear vision and an administration based on good values and best practices, should be the real measuring stick for PN’s strength.”