Hisham ready to give up post if Umno severs ties with Bersatu

PETALING JAYA: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says he is prepared to relinquish his Cabinet post if Umno decides to sever ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

The former Umno vice-president said Umno must consider its political cooperation and direction carefully if the party decides to sever ties with Bersatu.

“This is because the decision, whatever it may be, will eventually determine the rise or fall of Umno, impact on our values and the struggles of the party as well as the party’s position in the upcoming general election.

“If the party decides to not continue working with Bersatu, Umno must decide who it will cooperate with in the 15th General Election.

“Is it with DAP? Is it with PKR? Or just go it alone?” he said in a statement yesterday.

The Sembrong MP said that Umno must plan its political cooperation carefully as the next general election is not anytime soon.

Hishammuddin said the party must learn from the past when Barisan only won 79 seats in the 14th General Election compared to the 133 seats it had won in the 13th General Election.

“It means that we lost 54 seats. We must always learn from this experience, ” he reiterated.

The senior Umno leader said the country was still facing the Covid-19 pandemic and recording high daily cases.

“At the same time, we are facing floods. Our economy is slowly recovering.

“The number of people who have been impacted by the economic situation is increasing, ” he pointed out.

He added that Umno must set a good example and take the opportunity to show that it is concerned for the people’s welfare.

Hishammuddin also said that Umno leaders were given the chance to helm several coveted Cabinet posts, including the Defence Ministry, which was tasked to protect the nation’s safety and stop the spread of Covid-19.

“From my point of view, this is the hope of the people for the Umno leadership, not just endlessly fighting over power, ” he said.

“In the end, the rakyat will suffer and lose confidence.”