Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the turmoil and latest controversy in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) were signs from Allah for the people to reject the opposition party and continue to choose Umno and BN to rule the country.

He said Umno was not the cause of the controversy although it was always blamed for the problems in PKR, but this showed that PKR was not true to its objectives.

"The turmoil and controversy show serious weaknesses in the party, and that it is incapable of shouldering a bigger responsibility - governing the country.

shafie apdal and mps no defection pc 280808 04 "It also shows that truth triumphs over falsehood. This is a sign from Allah for the people," he said.

Shafie ( right ) said although Umno and BN were not perfect where the shortcomings were being addressed, it had a proven track record in maintaining stability and prosperity in the country.

Yesterday, Zaid Ibrahim made a shocking announcement that he had quit from all party posts and withdrawn from the party election for the deputy president post.

Today, he uged PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and party vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali to withdraw from the party, blaming them for the problems in the party.

No clear direction

MCA deputy president and Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said PKR's own leaders did not trust the party's election system and that Zaid's withdrawal from the contest showed the party had no clear direction and struggle.

Liow said this when met by reporters at the official opening of the Ampang Hospital by the Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, another Umno vice-president, said the door was always open for Zaid if he wished to return to Umno, "which is a strong and the best party for him to continue his political struggle".

"If people have left Umno out of dissatisfaction and joined another party which eventually showed more and bigger weaknesses, then Umno is still the better party," he said after the launching of the National Defence Policy at the Defence Ministry, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Puteri Umno chief Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the latest controversy in PKR showed favouritism reigned in the party which had made some leaders and members feel alienated.

"This is a party for friends. If you are not in Anwar's group, you will be sidelined and it is clear that Anwar wants Azmin to be the deputy president," she said.

- Bernama