No worthy PM candidate without ‘Umno DNA’ - former BN minister
To date, there is no one in the country of prime minister material that did not come from Umno stock, according to former BN minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Taking to social media, the former agriculture and agro-based industry minister said current prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, even former prime minister Dr Mahatahir Mohamad and PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim came from the ruling component party, and thus posses “strong Umno DNA”.
To date, there is no one in the country of prime minister material that did not come from Umno stock, according to former BN minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Taking to social media, the former agriculture and agro-based industry minister said current prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, even former prime minister Dr Mahatahir Mohamad and PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim came from the ruling component party, and thus posses “strong Umno DNA”.
“To date, there is no one qualified to be prime minister of Malaysia without Umno DNA in them
“Muhyiddin, Mahathir or Anwar, are all out of Umno, criticised Umno, but none can deny that in their blood flows strong Umno DNA.
“Other parties such as DAP, PAS or PKR cannot deliver anyone of prime minister material without Umno DNA,” Ahmad Shabery (photo), who is Umno supreme council member, posted on Facebook today.
Ahmad Shavery described Umno as a “school of politics”
“It builds a person’s experience to become matured and capable of building his mental and physical strengths.
“[...]Many insult Umno with many labels. This includes labels of being corrupt or thieves. However, the leader they criticise immediately become embraceable as soon as they leave Umno,” he quipped.
Muhyiddin, who was sworn in as the country’s eighth premier in March following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, is Bersatu president but had formerly served under various cabinet posts under Umno including deputy prime minister.
He joined the opposition with Mahathir to take down their former party after being fired for criticising then-premier Najib Abdul Razak’s handling of the 1MDB scandal over which the latter is now on trial.
However, Muhyiddin took Bersatu out of the Harapan coalition in February to form a new alliance with BN and PAS, taking over Putrajaya and allowing Umno back in power.
Similarly, Mahathir, who is Bersatu chairperson, helmed Umno and was Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister from 1981 to 2003. He later served as premier again but as head of the Haparan coalition after GE14.
Despite still leading Bersatu, Mahathir has opposed the alliance with BN and says he remain in opposition of the new government.
Anwar, meanwhile, served as Mahathir’s deputy under Umno prior to his falling out with the latter back in 1998 and subsequent imprisonment which led to the Reformasi movement.
He joined forces with Mahathir to take down BN and was prime minister-in-waiting after GE14 until the recent ouster of Harapan regime.
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