Don't play politics, concentrate on handling Covid-19 pandemic, getting economy running, says Johor Umno treasurer

JOHOR BARU: A senior Umno leader from Johor has expressed shock over his party's decision to reject the proposal to officially formalise the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

“If we are unhappy or disagree, we should not outright reject such a proposal.

“We should have come out to say that we need more time and now is not a suitable time for this coalition to be formalised," Umno Johor treasurer Datuk Md Jais Sarday said Thursday (May 7).

Jais, who is also Kluang Umno chief, said Umno was now part of the PN government and the decision was akin to “pulling the rug” from the Prime Minister’s feet.

“I am sure there are issues among all the parties in PN but it should be resolved amicably, ” he said, adding that politics should also be avoided during the fasting month.

The decision not to formalise Perikatan Nasional was reached unanimously at an Umno supreme council meeting Monday (May 4).

Umno had sealed the Muafakat Nasional pact with PAS to formalise official cooperation late last year.

Other BN component parties are regarded as having entered the pact through Umno.

Through Muafakat Nasional, BN and PAS backed Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to become Prime Minister of the PN coalition, thereby leading to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration after having been in power for 22 months.

Following the formation of the Perikatan administration at the federal level, several formerly Pakatan state governments also tumbled after the week-long political crisis in February.

Meanwhile, on Johor’s public spat between Bersatu leaders over the allocation of positions in state-government-linked companies, Jais said that such spats should be avoided.

“We need to be united. No point fighting among ourselves for positions and making unnecessary demands, ” he said, adding that Johor only has a few GLCs and the Mentri Besar was usually appointed as chairman.

Jais said now is not the time to make announcements that will confuse the people and show that there is no unity among the parties running the country.

He added all parties in Perikatan Nasional (PN) should quit playing politics now and concentrate on handling the Covid-19 pandemic and get the country’s economy running again.