PAKATAN LINE-UP ‘COSMETIC’
Naming of top leaders a rushed decision, says Umno Supreme Council member
THE new Pakatan Harapan lineup of leaders is described as cosmetic as it is a superficial and rushed decision made by the opposition pact. Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the announcement of leaders of the pact did not mention who was its top leader, and this proved it was not united in its stand.
He said despite naming three Malay leaders for the top posts, they did not name who held executive power.
“This is the first time in the history of political parties where people are appointed to top positions, and we are left wondering who among them holds the power.
“Who among them is their (nominee) for prime minister?
“This is a cosmetic move that is rushed and unrealistic,” said Puad after the Special Affairs Department’s Hari Raya open house at Katerina Hotel here yesterday.
On Thursday, Pakatan Harapan finalised its leadership, naming Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as its de facto leader and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as chairman.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar’s wife and PKR president, was appointed president.
Puad questioned why DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s name was left out from any of the top posts despite belonging to the party with the most number of parliamentary seats in the opposition pact.
“It also looks like they have difficulty appointing Lim Kit Siang a post. Have they run out of any ‘post’ they could think off ?
“May I suggest that Lim Kit Siang be given the post as Mursyidul Am (spiritual leader)?” Puad said.
He said it was difficult to ascertain who wielded power in the pact, as some of the other Malay leaders named to top posts were controlled by others.
“Just look at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was appointed as Pakatan Harapan deputy president. He now stands there as a mere puppet of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he said.
Puad said the appointments were part of a continuous lie by the opposition to mislead people.