UMNO acting president Mohamad Hasan has shut the door on secret deals with other parties, telling the Barisan Nasional lynchpin to “forget” all dreams of regaining power.
In a statement outlining his plans for the Malay party’s immediate future, he said Umno will remain an opposition outfit and rebuild itself as a party that Malaysians can trust.
“As an opposition party, Umno must forget all dreams of regaining power, and focus on regaining the people’s trust.
“Umno has only one choice: rebuild Malays’ trust in us. We will neither look back nor plan ways to take back power, or ‘hijack’ the results of the 14th general election by getting involved with parties in the government.
“Umno’s new commitment is to build Malaysia’s democracy by strengthening the two-party system and practising principled politics,” he said in the clearest declaration yet by the Umno leadership on the party’s direction since losing power in the May 9 general election.
Mohamad, who is the party’s No. 2, took over the duties of the president after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi went on leave on December 18.
He said in the next four years until GE15, Umno must serve as an effective check and balance to the government by providing credible alternatives to Pakatan Harapan’s promises and speaking out on the ruling pact’s weaknesses.
Before Mohamad, also known as Mat Hasan, took over the president’s duties, Umno was bleeding members and elected representatives, losing a total of 17 MPs, which left the BN component with 37 parliamentary seats from the 54 it won in GE14.
In his statement, Mohamad said Umno’s new role as an opposition party involves changing the way it champions Malay rights – its traditional rallying cry – and ridding itself of money politics. – TMI