ONLY the Umno president will have the authority and power to negotiate with any party on potential political pacts, said Ahamd Zahid Hamidi today.

He said the Umno Supreme Council today agreed on making him the sole authority on such matters as the party president.

“If there are any external parties who call for negotiations with Umno to discuss about any joining of forces, the Supreme Council has taken the decision that only the party president can represent them and no other individuals or leaders,” he told reporters after chairing a Supreme Council meeting at the party headquarters.

Zahid said he did not have to refer to the Supreme Council for any instructions and that his decisions are within his powers as the president.

At the same time, the Supreme Council also decided that the party would “100% reject any party that is working directly or indirectly” with DAP.

“Any negotiation must adhere to what is decided, which is we will not negotiate with any Pakatan Harapan party as long as they are associated with DAP,” he said.

According to Zahid, Umno decided to reject any cooperation with the DAP because of the socialist party’s “Malaysian Malaysia” concept which was not inline with Umno’s struggles and aims.

“We reject the implementation of the DAP’s subtle agenda towards the Malaysian Malaysia concept.

“They should give priority to the national agenda. Umno cannot accept this subtle agenda,” he said.

He, however, did not disclose which of the PH parties had expressed interest in working with Umno and PAS.

Umno and PAS are expected to sign a charter soon to agree not to contest against each other in the next general election, hoping that such an understanding would give them a better chance of winning the seats from PH.

Earlier this month, Zahid had said that both Umno and BN would never accept the invitation to join Bersatu as long as the PH coalition party cooperates with DAP.

This followed Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s invitation to all Malay parties, including Umno, to join Bersatu in efforts to unite the Malays. – July 24, 2019.