UMNO will be considerably weakened by its return to the Perikatan Nasional fold as it stands to lose more than just seats to its partner in the general election, said a political analyst. 

Universiti Malaya socio-cultural associate professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi said rapprochement with Bersatu means an end to Umno’s ambition to become the dominant political force it was in the past.

“The grassroots who want Umno to be more vocal and act firmly will be disappointed because they will see that the Umno leadership is weak in facing this situation,” he said.

In allying with PN, Umno will also appear to support the prime minister’s failed bid to declare an emergency that was rejected by the people and by the Agong, he said.

Awang Azman was responding to the Umno Supreme Council’s stated intention yesterday to back the PN government.

Umno has called for a national reconciliation agenda with the participation of all political parties, including the opposition.

Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi affirmed Umno will reject cooperation with PKR and DAP.

Awang Azman said Umno’s move will strengthen PN but is conditional upon Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin meeting the party’s demands. 

“Support for PN (is the result of) Umno being divided over leaving because the party has ministerial positions and it doesn’t want to lose power as it will have to bear the risk of an uncertain future.”

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan was among the party members who had urged the party to evaluate its position in PN after Umno was forced to take a backseat in the new Sabah government.

As for DAP and PKR, Awang Azman said their only chance now to gain power is to join forces with their partners in Pakatan Harapan and with Warisan, Pejuang and rebel Umno members to push for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister in the Dewan Rakyat.  

Umno met yesterday to decide on its official position in its partnership with Bersatu after the Agong on Sunday rejected a bid by the cabinet to impose emergency rule.  

Muhyiddin also met with party leaders in his office before convening a cabinet meeting later the same day. Zahid was missing from the first meeting.

The special cabinet meeting, meanwhile, was to “further discuss” the king’s decree there was no need to declare a state of emergency. 

The Agong said the government was doing a good job in handling the health crisis and urged politicians to stop fighting for power which was destabilising the country.

Prior to the meeting, Zahid had said that several Umno MPs were ready to support PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to replace Muhyiddin as prime minister.

Former Umno president Najib Razak had suggested that Umno consider working with Anwar or other parties if the general election was not called when the Covid-19 epidemic abated.

However, he said there would be no room for DAP in an Umno alliance with Anwar. – October 27, 2020.