Umno backing PN shows ‘it is being responsible’
PUTRAJAYA: Umno’s decision to continue backing the Perikatan Nasional government shows it is being responsible in a time of uncertainty and challenges, say several of its senior leaders.
They said the party’s supreme council decision also proved that the people’s interest took top priority.
Vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin said at the time of a pandemic and political uncertainty, Umno did not want to do anything that could trigger instability.
“If there is political chaos, then the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may reconsider the government’s earlier request for a state of emergency. We don’t want that.
“Also, we do not want to disrupt the government’s efforts to help the people, which is vital due to the pandemic and this can only be done by a functioning government,” he said.
The supreme council decided on Monday night that Umno MPs would continue to support the Perikatan government, and wanted cooperation to be further improved “based on respect and political consensus”.
The meeting that ended in the wee hours also saw Umno rejecting the idea of supporting Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or the DAP.
Khaled said: “We hope this will be a new chapter in our relationship, which cannot be one sided.”
Supreme council member Datuk Razlan Rafii said Umno had again played an important role in stabilising the government.
On Anwar and DAP, Razlan said there was not much discussion on this as the supreme council decided to maintain an earlier decision to reject them.
Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the decision to work closely with the administration could not have come at a better time.
“Fighting the pandemic should be on everyone’s agenda, be it the government or opposition. There is a time for everything and for now, the time is for us to fight Covid-19,” he said.
Umno youth exco member Fadzmel Fadzil said the need to speed up national reconciliation initiatives showed that the party cared for those economically affected.
“All focus and efforts must be on how to contain the pandemic, improve the economy and the people’s livelihood,” he added.