Submit official request if serious on cooperation, Umno tells Bersatu

Summary

• Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan urges Bersatu to submit a formal letter if it is serious about cooperating.

• He said that discussions should be official and not just through media remarks.

Bersatu should submit an official letter if it is serious about wanting to work with Umno, said a leader of the latter today, stressing that such overtures cannot be entertained based on media statements alone.

Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan said so far, there has been no formal request from Bersatu regarding cooperation, despite recent public remarks from its leaders.

“Of course, important matters like this must be discussed at the Umno supreme council level.

“If Bersatu intends to cooperate with Umno or is interested in rejoining the party, they should submit a letter so that formal discussions can take place.

“Don’t keep bringing this up in the media, because without a formal request, how can it be discussed officially by the supreme council?” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Ahmad was speaking at a press conference after launching the CR4.0 Construction Revolution Tour and myDigital Kontraktor programme in Benut, Johor.

His remarks came in response to Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, who recently raised the possibility of cooperation with Umno during a podcast with former Umno minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Hamzah had said that Bersatu, a splinter party from Umno, shares similar values with the latter and is open to working together to achieve common goals.

“If we look at the agenda, Umno was founded to champion religion, race, and country. Today, Bersatu upholds the same ideology.

“Is it possible that one day there could be cooperation? This does not mean Bersatu is weak, but we are open to collaboration,” said Hamzah.

Umno chief quashes idea

However, on April 25, BN chairperson and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party has closed the door on any form of cooperation with Perikatan Nasional, including proposals to work together in Perak.

This came after both Hamzah and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang floated the idea during a campaign in Ayer Kuning.

Commenting further, Ahmad said Hamzah’s suggestion was never brought up for discussion at Umno’s top decision-making level.

“There has been no discussion at the supreme council level on the proposal made by the Bersatu deputy president during the recent meeting.

“In fact, the previous supreme council meetings also never discussed this issue,” he said.

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