BUTTERWORTH: Barisan Nasional and Umno's decision to take strategic steps to maximise its chances of winning in recent state elections should not be construed as an act of "stabbing in the back", says Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
He said the party leadership had to prioritise strategies that would ensure victory rather than risk defeat, particularly in states where there were no formal agreements between Barisan and Pakatan Harapan.
"Strategic moves should not be called stabbing in the back. These are strategic steps taken for the survival of the party," he said after launching the Contractors Convention 2026: NexGen Builders - Building the Next Generation and launch CIS 33:2026 (Facility Management Good Practice Guide) at the Penang International Convention Cultural & Arts Centre (PICCA) on Tuesday (Aug 18).
Ahmad said there were no agreements between Barisan and Pakatan at the state level in Johor, Negri Sembilan and also in the upcoming Melaka state election, although there was an agreement at the Federal level to remain in the Unity Government until the end of the current term.
"Our important agreement is at the Federal level, and we are fulfilling that agreement. The party president and Barisan chairman have repeatedly said that we will remain together in the unity government until the end of the term because we signed an agreement," he said.
Ahmad was commenting on reports of criticism against Umno at the recent PKR national congress and DAP convention, where some delegates reportedly accused the party of being insincere in its cooperation with the coalition government and of "stabbing (them) in the back".
He said Pakatan should understand that state-level strategies were aimed at maximising electoral gains and did not breach any agreement.
"If we do not take strategic steps in Negri Sembilan, Barisan will lose. Which party wants to lose? That is the strategic step taken to win. In Melaka, let us wait for the decision," he said.
Ahmad said the matter would likely be discussed at the Umno supreme council meeting on Aug 28.
He added that states were entitled to adopt strategies that best served their respective electoral interests in the absence of formal agreements at the state level.
"This is why I said there are no agreements at the state level in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka. I think there are no agreements in Sarawak and Sabah either. So the state parties have the right to maximise and ensure victory," he said.
Ahmad also drew a comparison with DAP's recent decision to remain in the Unity Government, saying political parties routinely took strategic steps to safeguard their interests and survival.
He said DAP had also used a strategic approach by holding a vote at its congress on its position in the Unity Government, with only 82% of delegates who attended supporting the decision.
"Those who did not attend do not have the right to voice their opinion because they did not attend," he said.
Ahmad said Umno's approach was similarly driven by the need to avoid a three-cornered contest, particularly in Negri Sembilan.
"If the Malays are divided and there is a three-cornered fight in Negri Sembilan, Umno-BN will lose. Therefore, we must choose the path to victory. It is a strategic move, not a stab in the back," he said.
