Umno ready to work with 'enemies', says Annuar

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 10 Aug 2018 7:00AM · 12 Comments

UMNO is willing to cooperate with any party, including DAP, said its secretary-general, Annuar Musa, adding that the party cannot be rigid in new Malaysia.

“We want to keep our options open. Barisan Nasional’s (BN) old formula of alliance is now outdated.

“We need to keep our options open and be willing to be very pragmatic. We want to engage with as many political parties and other organisations as possible, including the four political parties in government,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Annuar was referring to the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which comprises PKR, DAP, Amanah and Bersatu.

He said nothing is impossible in politics, adding that Umno is not just looking at cooperation with PAS but if given the opportunity, it will work with Bersatu, PKR and even DAP.

The former Mara chairman said collaboration with DAP will be possible if the party agrees to meet Umno’s demands of protecting the rights of Malays, which are enshrined in the federal constitution.

“We consider ourselves as the custodians of the constitution. The things that appear in the constitution are part and parcel of our struggle. If DAP can agree to that, we can work with DAP,” Annuar said.

Umno will reinvent itself to become a party more suited for the 21st century, the Ketereh lawmaker said.

“There will be no room for chauvinism, no room for racism. No room for extremism. Everything must be a concept of moderation and sharing. That is what is Umno is all about,” Annuar said.

If all goes well, Umno will be back in power in the next two years, the former minister said.

This, he said, was based on PH’s performance so far, which makes him confident it will lose the government soon.

“We are not thinking about the GE (general election), we are thinking about taking over the government after mid-term.

“Five years is too far away. We are not thinking of GE15, thinking of taking it midway. (It is) very very possible,” Annuar said.

PAS and Umno had a working relationship during the recently held Sg Kandis by-election, where the Islamist party sat out to prevent a three-cornered fight with Pakatan Harapan.

However, PKR’s Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni won the state seat by 15,427 votes while BN’s Lokman Noor Adam received 9,585 votes to give the former a 5,842-vote majority. – August 10, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Bullsheeeet!

    Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • DAH TAK ADA MODAL LAGI DAH

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • Why bother collaborating with the "chauvinistic" party when the rights of Malays are enshrined in our federal constitution? Why all these talks about moderation, sharing and eliminating racism now when UMNO is no longer in power? If UMNO wants to be truly relevant, it needs to be inclusive and rid itself of kleptocrats and corrupt leaders.

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • The Devil in Umno's thoughts?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • UMNO is totally out of ideas...and is desperate...no one can trust them anymore...period

    Posted 7 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • Some excuses to work with PAS

    Posted 7 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • Must be a joke. Umno taking over mid-term? Most likely as Tun Mahathir said the next change of government will be after another 61 years.

    Posted 7 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • What a shame! 61 full years in govt and you still "struggle". Why did you fail to uplift your people during those years in power? Some became filthy rich & left the rest behind? Now the Pakatan govt has to right the wrongs done to all others. Don't you think you will just be history unless you modernise your thinking? Welcome aboard then..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • This umno Sec. Gen is himself corrupted.......Mara case Kelantan FA case .......soon to be hauled......only stupid Malays still has eyes on umno.

    Posted 7 years ago by Azis Yusoff · Reply

  • I suppose you donkeys are missing the corridors of power is it, first session of Parliament isnt over yet and you donkeys already shift gears, what happen to the saying that you donkeys want to be a strong and solid opposition? I say it then and I say it now you donkeys have disregards the RAKYAT far too long, greed and arrogant has taken over not to mentioned you donkeys treated and embraced the lifestyle of cash is king and now you are paying for it.

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • He is high on smoking weed.

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Hallo Annuar, cari lubang nak kembali to putrajaya? Yeah I reckon the likes of DAP might work with UMNO. But not with you, tajuddin and bung around.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply