Cooperation with other parties must be decided at AGM and not by one person, say Umno supreme council members

PETALING JAYA: Umno's official stand that there will be no cooperation with DAP or PKR, as decided at its last annual general meeting and supreme council meeting, has not changed.

Supreme council members Datuk Seri Azalina Othman and Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said any cooperation with another political party must have the endorsement of the party AGM or supreme council, without which any decision is not valid.

Commenting on news that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might announce cooperation between PKR and Umno later Tuesday (March 15), Azalina said any party that wishes to cooperate with Umno must realise that it has 3.5 million members.

"Anyone can claim to have talked (with Umno). It is not the prerogative of any one man to make a decision for such a big party.

"My personal opinion is that if you want to talk about cooperation, win the seats (in the election) first. Not before that. Then we can talk," Azalina, the Pengerang MP and Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, said when contacted.

Parit Sulong MP and Higher Education Minister Noraini, who is also Wanita Umno leader, said the party stands by its decision made at the last AGM and supreme council meeting.

"There has been no change in the decisions made by us... that Umno will not cooperate with DAP or PKR," she said when contacted.