Umno urges DAP not to field Pua in state polls after 'corrupt coalition' remarks

Umno has urged DAP not to field its former publicity secretary Tony Pua as a candidate in the upcoming state polls if they wish for the coalition government to last.

This comes after Pua’s remarks labelling BN and Umno as “corrupt” at last night's DAP Petaling Jaya fundraising dinner.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, in his Facebook post this morning, said he had sent a protest message to DAP’s top leadership on Pua’s comments.

“After all, he (Pua) is still daydreaming until he has forgotten that the government today is not a Pakatan Harapan government but a grand coalition government of BN, Harapan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Warisan, which comprises 19 political parties.

“What he said only highlighted how shallow of a person he is,” Asyraf said.

Last night, Pua had reportedly urged Harapan supporters to prove doubters that “a multiracial party that is clean and not corrupt” could do better “than corrupt coalitions like BN, Umno and Bersatu”.

“That’s what we want to prove while we have the five-year opportunity to showcase the difference. If we’re successful, I’m confident that in four years, at the next general election, we will receive even greater support from the people.

“And by we, I mean Harapan,” the former Damansara MP said.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has since distanced the party from Pua's remarks, saying the latter spoke in an individual capacity and his comments did not represent the party leadership.

Elaborating on the matter, Asyraf said the people have never forgotten Pua’s actions when “he was in the Finance Ministry” during Harapan’s 22 months tenure.

“It was one of the main contributors that caused the country’s economy and finances, which were plentiful during BN’s reign, to collapse and cause the people to suffer.

“Even up to this moment, although five years have passed, the country’s economy has not fully recovered. Malaysia is not as glorious as it used to be!”

In December 2021, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote in his memoir that a particular unnamed political secretary, who behaved “arrogantly” and overstepped his job scope, had irked the business community when Harapan was in power.

He later confirmed that it was Pua, calling the latter “arrogant” and had “behaved like a minister” during the latter’s tenure as the political secretary to former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

The nonagenarian said Pua's “arrogant” attitude towards investors had cost Malaysia much-needed funds during Harapan’s administration.

Ready to be opposition

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil also took a swipe at Pua for the latter’s remark.

Isham asserted that Pua should suggest to DAP leaders to leave Umno out of the coalition government.

“If Umno is so corrupt and ‘dirty’, there is no need to wait for the 16th general election.

“I’m ‘okay’ with being (in) the opposition. If not for Agong’s decree, Umno and BN would have been ready to be the opposition after the 15th general election.

“Are you (Pua) ready to be in opposition?” Isham asked.

Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad joined the bandwagon in taking Pua to task.

In a statement this evening, the Parit Sulong MP said Pua's statement not only spoils the good ties between parties that support the unity government but will also affect their preparations for the upcoming state elections.

"Wanita Umno believes that Tony Pua's statement does not represent DAP as what its secretary-general Anthony Loke had stated.

"Wanita Umno wants to stress that the government we have today is built on the cooperation between 19 other parties and coalitions.

"Any differences in opinion between parties should be addressed through the unity government secretariat, which serves as a coordinator for whatever issue that arises in the government and make sure that we do not conflict with each other," she said.

Adding further, Noraini said the unity between parties in the government is fundamental to ensure the country is stable in terms of politics and economy and for the prosperity of the rakyat.

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