Bersatu leaders should dissolve party and join Umno, says veterans' club

Summary

• Umno Veterans' Club suggests Bersatu leaders dissolve their party and become Umno members instead

• Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub claims Bersatu made the offer only because they are worried PAS will abandon Perikatan Nasional.

The Umno Veterans’ Club today suggested Bersatu's top leaders dissolve their party and become Umno members.

This followed Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin's latest statement saying the party is open to cooperating with Umno.

While the opposition leader's remark seems well-intended, it reveals Bersatu's concern about its partnership with PAS in Perikatan Nasional, according to Umno Veterans’ Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub.

Mustapha (above) claimed PAS had sent representatives to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim multiple times seeking to join the unity government and that Bersatu was aware of this attempt.

"Bersatu realises this and believes that PAS would betray them. Thus, as a way out and for the survival of their party, they (Bersatu) offer to cooperate with Umno, saying that Umno and Bersatu share the same struggle for our religion, race and country.

"This statement (sharing struggle) is true because Bersatu's party constitution was a copy and paste of Umno's. Even their leaders and members are from Umno's DNA.

"Thus, the Umno Veterans' Club suggests that Bersatu does not need to cooperate with Umno. Instead, what their leaders should do is to hold an extraordinary general assembly and dissolve Bersatu, as Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) did with Semangat 46.

"All Bersatu members can return to Umno en bloc. This would be the best way if Bersatu wants to fight for religion, race and country," Mustapha said.

Hamzah’s remark

Malaysiakini has reached out to PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan for comments.

According to a news report, Hamzah, in a podcast last night, said Bersatu is ready to work with Umno as both parties share a similar ideology.

"If we look from the perspective of its agenda, Umno was established to fight for religion, race and our nation. And today, Bersatu also holds the same ideology.

"Perhaps one day we can work together? This doesn't mean Bersatu is not strong, but we are ready to cooperate," Berita Harian quoted Hamzah as saying.

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