‘Don’t blindly accept Umno leaders’

Zuraida cautions against accepting opposition heads without discussion

KUALA LUMPUR: Incumbent Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin says any decision for Pakatan Harapan to accept Umno leaders should be discussed by the presidential council.

“There are many interpretations. So, let us deliberate on that this Saturday.

“We have to see whether it’s healthy or not, because in some situations, it might be good, and not (good),” she told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Zuraida, who is contesting the PKR vice-presidency, was asked to comment on DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai’s remarks to a Malay daily that it was unhealthy for Pakatan to accept Umno leaders.

Tan’s statement came following former Umno stalwart Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed’s decision to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on Friday.

The following day, Bersatu supreme council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said there was a possibility that as many as 40 MPs from Umno might join Pakatan.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, when met at Parliament, said it was inappropriate for Tan to attack Umno leaders who decide to join Pakatan.

“This issue should be discussed at the Pakatan presidential meeting.

“It is not right for Tan to come up with such statements before discussing it with the Prime Minister,” he said.

In Alor Setar, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said any Umno leader hoping to join Bersatu would first be screened to ensure he was “clean” and capable of carrying out Pakatan’s new policies.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa claimed that Bersatu had approached its MPs to jump ship.

“Some were wooed directly, and others through a middleman. The idea is to strengthen Bersatu,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Annuar described Bersatu’s move as understandable, saying it needed experienced leaders to strengthen itself.

Annuar believes Umno leaders would not abandon the party, saying they were loyal to the party.

The Ketereh MP also maintained that he would remain in Umno, adding that he was given a mandate by his constituents.

He also said it was time for the opposition to support Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and put an end to excessive politicking.

“The opposition cannot be the opposition of the past, which bashed every government initiative. I think that period is over now.

“We want to offer ourselves as the government and for that, we will have to wait for four or five more years.

“But for now, we must support Dr Mahathir. We must support the Prime Minister,” he said to reporters when met at the Parliament lobby.