GE15: Umno has the power to determine its direction, says Zahid
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party understands that the dissolution of Parliament is a decision of the cabinet before it is brought to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for approval.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party understands that the dissolution of Parliament is a decision of the cabinet before it is brought to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for approval.
Therefore, Zahid said his party will not interfere in the matter, in accordance with upholding the Federal Constitution.
“We understand that the power to dissolve Parliament is the cabinet’s decision, then the prime minister will seek the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We do not want to interfere in the matter, but as a responsible party, Umno has the power to determine the party’s direction,” he said when delivering his speech at the Umno general assembly today.
The former deputy prime minister also alluded that if the rakyat's "mood" was leaning towards Umno, the general election should be held immediately.
"What are we waiting for?
"As (Umno) vice-president (Mohamad Hasan) said, buek apo tunggu lamo-lamo, takut anak daro dicuri orang (don't wait too long or someone might steal the girl)," he said.
‘Suspicious MOU’
Earlier, Zahid said the decision of the opposition to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government was a suspicious move as they have always wanted to destroy Umno.
“When they agreed to sign an MOU, they probably had an ulterior motive.
“I believe that they accepted us because they know it is a way to kill us. They never loved us!
“I urge you to read the constitution of our opposing parties. Realise (that) you are sleeping with your enemies. They keep daggers in our blankets. Do we really want to renew the MOU (with them)?
“We leave it to the prime minister’s wisdom,” said Zahid.
DAP had urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob not to give in to pressure from Zahid to call for fresh polls after the PM indicated that he might continue working with Pakatan Harapan beyond July 31, after the MOU between the opposition coalition and the government expires.
Listen to grassroots
Further into his speech, Zahid told delegates that the assembly must listen to the demand of its grassroots who want the party to get a new mandate through GE15.
"I am hoping that we will give it back to the people to choose. Let them decide. Let's get a new mandate for Umno.
"When people want to embrace us, we must accept them. Do not only cry after we lose their support.
“The more we make them wait, the more the rakyat will suffer, and the worse the country will become," he said.
A total of 2,666 delegates attended the Umno annual general assembly 2021 which began on March 16 after being postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision of whether to push for snap polls was among the issues expected to be discussed in the AGM.
Umno must be the dominant party
Zahid stressed the need for the party to emerge as the dominant party in the government via fresh polls, particularly after Umno worked with an 'ungrateful' party to form the government.
"Some are ungrateful as they forgot that they came to power because of our support. They just give us all sorts of labels, naming us court cluster and Putrajaya cluster," he said.
Zahid added that Umno MPs were also not given strategic ministries in the Muhyiddin Yassin administration.
Apart from that, he lamented that the previous administration also looked for all sorts of excuses to slap Umno politicians with criminal charges.
"Some of us are clean because no charges have been brought against us yet. But they are looking for it.
"These people are bad, they are vindictive. So, to ensure (we will have a government) that is not vindictive and vengeful, Umno must again be dominant (in the government) in the next general election," the Umno president said.
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