Umno’s support for the Perikatan Nasional government is temporary and the future of any partnership needs to be re-examined, said Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
“I echo Mohamad Hasan’s opinion that we should keep our options open. This doesn’t mean we will abandon the government as it is needed to handle this crisis.
“But moving forward, it’s too early to talk about elections and new alignments. Our focus is on strengthening our party. Umno must strengthen itself,” said the Umno supreme council member today.
The former Umno minister was commenting on Umno deputy president Mohamad’s comment last week that Umno’s cooperation with Bersatu was only temporary.
Mohamad had said Umno has no qualms about going against Bersatu in the next general election.
“We have to support the government for now but let’s not go beyond that,” said the former Kota Belud MP after attending a special supreme council meeting at PWTC today.
Rahman said the special meeting with president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was to provide feedback to the leadership.
“Covid-19 or not, we need to give our members feedback and expectations on how to move forward after the movement control order (MCO).”
Umno is the first political party to hold a central leadership meeting during the MCO.
Among those spotted at the meeting include FT Minister Annuar Musa, former deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and former ministers Azalina Othman and Mahadzir Khalid.
“We maintained very strict protocols by sitting apart. And only half showed up today,” said Rahman.
Tajuddin, who is Pasir Salak MP, said the meeting was productive.
“But I cannot tell you what we discussed. Secret.”
He said the meeting was attended by supreme council members and some invited leaders.
“Mohamad Hasan didn’t come as he attended the political bureau meeting last week. There were about 20 of us today,” said Tajuddin. – TMI