JOHOR BARU: Holding a general election now should be the “last option” for Umno due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“Umno will not gamble with security, health and the people’s well-
being just to hold a general election,” said the Umno vice-president.
He said the party’s priority was to form a government that could manage the country during this crisis.
He added that the final decision was in the hands of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin because he knew what Umno wanted and what the party was capable of doing.
“Umno’s priority is the well-being of Malaysians. If that is what the Prime Minister also wants, then he should do something immediately to calm down any uneasiness,” he said, adding that the party would always support good decisions.
Khaled also said Umno never fully trusted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as the party was formed to replace Umno, but there was “mutual respect” between the two parties.
“When the country was in critical condition in February, Umno decided to support Muhyiddin as Prime Minister,” he said, adding that Umno wanted to use its experience in managing the country to give new impetus after the Pakatan Harapan government did not fulfil its mandate.
He said after seven months, “uneasiness” between Umno and Bersatu started to increase.
“The public is now aware why Umno no longer trusts Bersatu and the mutual respect forged between the two parties is also running thin,” he said.
Khaled added that Umno had tried to send clear signals on this matter to the Prime Minister several times, but it was as if the Prime Minister or Bersatu deliberately did not understand the situation.
“The time has come for the Prime Minister to take a bold and sincere look at the direction of his government and the recent action taken by Umno,” he added.
He said the Prime Minister should be aware that the party’s priority was to support the government they had formed.
But he pointed out that to achieve this, radical changes should be made to the present government.
“Umno has many options now. Umno can strengthen Perikatan Nasional or make it fall,” he said.
He added that a sincere leadership could always change “mutual respect” to real trust as “trust is earned and not given”.
“Umno will not gamble with security, health and the people’s well-
being just to hold a general election,” said the Umno vice-president.
He said the party’s priority was to form a government that could manage the country during this crisis.
He added that the final decision was in the hands of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin because he knew what Umno wanted and what the party was capable of doing.
“Umno’s priority is the well-being of Malaysians. If that is what the Prime Minister also wants, then he should do something immediately to calm down any uneasiness,” he said, adding that the party would always support good decisions.
Khaled also said Umno never fully trusted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as the party was formed to replace Umno, but there was “mutual respect” between the two parties.
“When the country was in critical condition in February, Umno decided to support Muhyiddin as Prime Minister,” he said, adding that Umno wanted to use its experience in managing the country to give new impetus after the Pakatan Harapan government did not fulfil its mandate.
He said after seven months, “uneasiness” between Umno and Bersatu started to increase.
“The public is now aware why Umno no longer trusts Bersatu and the mutual respect forged between the two parties is also running thin,” he said.
Khaled added that Umno had tried to send clear signals on this matter to the Prime Minister several times, but it was as if the Prime Minister or Bersatu deliberately did not understand the situation.
“The time has come for the Prime Minister to take a bold and sincere look at the direction of his government and the recent action taken by Umno,” he added.
He said the Prime Minister should be aware that the party’s priority was to support the government they had formed.
But he pointed out that to achieve this, radical changes should be made to the present government.
“Umno has many options now. Umno can strengthen Perikatan Nasional or make it fall,” he said.
He added that a sincere leadership could always change “mutual respect” to real trust as “trust is earned and not given”.
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