Umno ministers spotted at Putrajaya hotel

PUTRAJAYA: The presence of several ministers at a hotel here on Friday (March 25) has sparked all sorts of speculation.

More interestingly, the ministers who were present are from Umno.

Spotted at the hotel were Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Sadique and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Also seen were Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican.

It is learnt the ministers arrived as early as 8am and left around 9.50am.

When approached, the ministers declined to talk.

"I'm here for breakfast," said Annuar.

Shahidan also did not say why he was at the hotel.

"I came for only two minutes and now I am going for the Cabinet meeting," he said.

Aside from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, there are 10 Umno ministers in the current Cabinet.

Others are Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

The just-concluded Umno general assembly saw delegates pushing for national polls to be held soon.

Following the government's failure to pass the amendments to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2021 (Sosma) enforcement period on Wednesday, Umno leaders have called for the memorandum of understanding between the government and the Opposition to be revoked and a general election be called to elect a new government.

The government had signed the MOU with Pakatan Harapan last year to bring reforms and political stability to the nation amid the pandemic.

A provision in the document also states that Pakatan agreed to support or remain neutral in any motion submitted by the government.

The current term of Parliament expires in June 2023.