UMNO has called for a ceasefire from all politicians as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party decided on a truce as the economy was hit and the people were badly affected.

“The party is calling for a political ceasefire, helping the people who are being affected by hardship and anxiety due to economic obstacles should be given priority,” he said in a statement today.

The Bagan Datoh MP added Umno will support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government during these trying times.

“(Umno) Supports the PN government in its efforts to focus on helping the people and country to deal with the pandemic and the economic woes,” Zahid said.

The former deputy prime minister also urged for all parties in PN to reconcile and work together to ensure the stability of the country.

“The cooperation between all parties in the PN government should be enhanced to ensure the political stability of the country to face the Covid-19 threat and the economic instability,” Zahid added.

He also ordered all Umno ministers to stop politicking and focus their full efforts in helping the people at this point.

Umno offered Bersatu to officially join the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact in August and was accepted by the party. But Monday’s decision by Umno and PAS, the other partner in the pact, did not include Bersatu. 

This means, when the next general election is called, Bersatu will contest alone with other PN parties. 

It is also unclear if Umno’s Barisan Nasional allies like MIC and MCA will also follow suit and pull out of PN.

Tensions between Umno and Bersatu are at an all-time high, with the former considering to withdraw from PN unless its new terms of cooperation are met.

Party insiders told The Malaysian Insight the new demands include a cabinet reshuffle in which more pertinent portfolios are given to Umno leaders and, possibly, a demand for the deputy prime minister post. 

The move comes after Umno lost out to Bersatu in Sabah for the chief minister’s post where Hajiji Md Noor was sworn-in instead of Umno Sabah chief Bung Moktar. – October 21, 2020.