UMNO today denied that infighting and mutiny in the party forced president Ahmad Zahid Hamid to announce a political ceasefire yesterday.

Annuar Musa, a Supreme Council member, denied reports of a heated four-hour meeting in which Zahid was pressured to make a decision on the ceasefire.

“The report was clearly not true and there was no meeting during that time. The Umno president’s consideration takes into account the views of various parties and is his own decision,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Malaysia Now alleged that Zahid was forced to make the decision after protest from Umno leaders angry over the backing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim instead of the Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional.

The report also claims that Zahid will postpone party elections scheduled for next year.

Annuar said Zahid’s decision is unilateral, adding that is puts the nation ahead of politics.

“The president and Umno understand the priority are the people, especially when it comes to health and life.

“Therefore, the actions of the Umno president are appropriate. The people and the country come first, not politics,” he said.

Annuar, who is Federal Territories minister, said the political ceasefire is needed as the nation is facing the Covid-19 pandemic and all parties should work together in these trying times.

Parties should not want to take over the government just yet and a stable administration is required to see out this calamity, he said.

“Disturbing stability is the easiest thing. But changing the PM does not eliminate the virus. Even an election won’t save the people but worsen things.”

The Ketereh MP also advised all politicians to join forces and pass Budget 2021, which will be tabled on November 6, so Putrajaya has enough funds to battle Covid-19.

The Barisan Nasional secretary-general also urged for the Election Commission (EC) to cancel the Batu Sapi by-election in light of the pandemic.

“The EC needs to make preparations to formulate a comprehensive new SOP before a general election can be held. Even by-elections, such as in Batu Sapi, which must be held, should not be held until everything is under control. All these obvious evils must be avoided,” Annuar said.

The Batu Sapi by-election in Sabah is triggered by the death of Warisan’s former de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong last month.

Zahid in a statement yesterday ordered a political ceasefire for Umno to focus on eradicating Covid-19. – October 22, 2020.