Umno is not a communist party, says Nazri after gag order

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz. -filepic

PETALING JAYA: A defiant Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has hit back at Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan following a gag order issued by the party against him.

He said the Pontian MP has no right to silence him as Umno isn't a communist party.

"Is he trying to warn me against speaking? It is my own statement.

"Umno is a democratic party. This is 2021, not the 1960s or 1970s where you can issue a gag order. We are not a communist party," he said when contacted Thursday (April 8).

Nazri said Ahmad had sent a message to his secretary, saying that only three people were allowed to speak on behalf of Umno - party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputies Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Ahmad himself.

"In the same message, he mentioned that whatever statement made by members does not represent the party’s stand.

"So be it-lah. I never said I spoke on behalf of the party. I said it's my statement. So what is he trying to do?" Nazri asked.

Commenting further on the infighting in Umno, Nazri said he was not aligned to anyone and is acting in the best interests of the party.

"Some even think I'm aligned with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but you must remember, a month ago, I hit back at him.

"So, I'm not aligned to anybody. I'm aligned to Umno's best interests and that is to win the election," he said.

Nazri also reiterated his calls for Ahmad Zahid to resign as party president, saying that his ongoing court case has been a liability to Umno lately.

The message that Nazri received had also said that any public arguments would only trigger negative media reports, which would be a liability to the party.

Nazri had called for investigations into an audio clip in order to ascertain its authenticity.

The audio clip of two voices sounding like Ahmad Zahid and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim went viral on social media on Wednesday (April 7).

However, Ahmad Zahid and Anwar have since denied the authenticity of the audio recording, and instructed their officers to lodge reports over the matter.