The Malaysian Insight

TALKS of attempts to reverse the Umno Supreme Council’s decision in breaking ties with Bersatu in the next general election are just meant to confuse the grassroots, said party division leaders.

These division leaders told The Malaysian Insight the veracity of such a move could not be confirmed.

In recent weeks, there have been claims that some of Umno leaders aligned to Bersatu president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin have been busy attempting to buy support from party divisions.

A Tun Razak division chief Rizalman Mokhtar said he has not been approached by anyone to make him change support for the Supreme Council’s decision.

“As the head of Tun Razak division, I have never been approached or contacted by anyone to change my stand.

“So for me, the party has made a decision and the division has decided, so the Supreme Council will continue with what has been decided.

“So if there is any action to change the first decision, it is beyond my knowledge,” he said.

He added that if it is true that there was such a movement, it is being disrespectful of the decision of the Umno Supreme Council.

Rizalman also criticised attempts by rival parties to buy off Umno division heads in exchange for support.

“Our dignity is not only valued at RM10,000, the party’s dignity is much more important,” he said.

Earlier this week, Wangsa Maju Umno chief Rafi Awang Kechik claimed that some of the party’s division heads were paid RM10,000 to RM30,000 to backtrack from supporting the Supreme Council’s decision to sever ties with Bersatu in the GE15.

Through a post on Facebook, Rafi said these division chiefs were also offered infrastructure projects worth RM300,000.

He said that certain party leaders had also asked divisions to bring a motion at the party’s upcoming annual general meeting to review the earlier decision to revoke ties with Bersatu.

Rafi in his post also claimed that Umno Supreme Council member Shahidan Kassim is among those working on this agenda.

He said Shahidan had met with six Malacca division representatives to ask for a motion in support of Bersatu and to propose the post of deputy prime minister from Umno.

Shah Alam division chief Azhari Shaari, however, said such a move would surely fail.

“I have heard about it too but I can’t confirm whether it is right or wrong.

“But if there is a movement, they cannot do anything because the Supreme Council decision cannot be challenged.

“If there is a movement, you cannot make any changes,” he said.

Asked what his division’s decision was on the conflict, he said they will follow the majority.

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insight tried to contact Shahidan to comment on the allegations but so far there has been no response from the Arau MP.

Last Wednesday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that Umno had identified two Supreme Council members who were alleged to have leaked information on their meetings.

According to a report by Utusan Malaysia, he revealed the matter in a speech to Malacca Umno leaders at Masjid Tanah.

Sources quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying that Zahid was angry with the actions of the two Umno leaders and promised to take stern action, including expelling them from Umno.

The Umno Supreme Council in its last meeting on February 19 in Janda Baik, Pahang, had agreed to cut off ties with Bersatu in GE15. – March 21, 2021.