UMNO LEADERS MUM ON RUMOURED PACT
Umno top guns to meet Pas leaders today, possibly on linking up with Bersatu in pact
UMNO leaders have denied discussing the socalled “Pakatan Nasional” initiative during the party’s Supreme Council meeting yesterday.
The media were earlier informed that Umno’s meeting at 3pm yesterday would centre on the effort to unite the three major Malay-based parties — Umno, Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia — following a news report that claimed there was such a plan.
The claim gained traction after Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam released an audio clip allegedly of party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asking Umno members to form a cooperation pact with Bersatu during a closed-door meeting.
Several Umno leaders, when met the at Putra World Trade Centre after the meeting, refused to answer questions posed by journalists.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin told the media that plans on the purported Pakatan Nasional were not discussed at the meeting.
“It was just a normal meeting. I’m the Sabah Umno chairman and I informed everyone of the political situation in Sabah and we talked about post-Kimanis (by-election) victory.
“We didn’t (talk about Pakatan Nasional), only about Muafakat Nasional (Umno-Pas cooperation) and how we can further strengthen the latter ahead of the next general election.”
However, Bung Moktar confirmed that several Umno big guns would hold a meeting with Pas leaders today.
“I won’t be attending. Only the highest level (leaders from) Umno. I’m a low-level leader,” he said.
Bung Moktar denied the claim that Umno would form a cooperation pact with Bersatu.
On Lokman’s controversial move to release the audio clip, Bung Moktar said the matter was discussed during the meeting, but refused to say whether Lokman would be sacked from the party.
“We leave this matter to the disciplinary board. Let them decide,” he said.
Pressed further on whether Umno supported Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Bung Moktar said: “If he does good things for the country, I’ll support him.”