UMNO grassroots have expressed caution over the party’s decision to support Perikatan Nasional (PN) as they feel that the Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin has once again given in to Bersatu.

They told The Malaysian Insight it was time Bersatu met the party half way if the cooperation was going to bear fruit, adding that Umno will not be bullied anymore.

Bersatu must make an effort to meet some of Umno;s demands, the grassroots said.

Umno Sg Besar youth chief Imran Tamrin said party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for a national reconciliation agenda comprising all political parties is an initiative that Bersatu could play a key role in.

“Any truce cannot be a one-way effort. PN must treat this call sincerely.

“PN must take into account the views of not only those in government but also the opposition through a round table before Budget 2021 is tabled in Parliament,” Imran told The Malaysian Insight.

Imran felt this has to be done if the passage of Budget 2021 is to proceed without any hiccups considering PN has a razor-thin majority in Parliament.

He said even though Zahid had called for a truce, he felt it would be difficult to keep.

“Bear in mind that the ties between Umno and Bersatu is an uneasy one. Bersatu was formed to fight Umno and replace it as the premier party for the Malays in the country,” he said.

Bersatu’s aim was always to lure Umno members into their ranks and deplete the party.

Imran said that is why it was difficult for both parties to find common ground.

“This current arrangement is a short-term solution considering the current Covid-19 pandemic and to ease anxiety among the public,” said Imran, who is also Sg Panjang assemblyman.

Segamat Umno youth chief Bastien Onn said just like how Umno had given in to Bersatu, the splinter party should also entertain some of its demands.

“Umno has been gracious about this and given in despite its unhappiness in the past. We want to move forward.

“So I hope Bersatu will do the same. In any relationship there must be a party that gives in the interest of maintaining ties.

“We want to look at the bigger picture, which is the good of the public. Anyway political parties are formed for the people,” said the Umno youth exco member.

For this reason, he said, the party’s Supreme Council decision was good as it did not want to be seen as interfering in the cabinet’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We don’t want to be seen as the party that brought down a government which is in the midst of fighting a pandemic. This is a war which involves everyone, including the opposition.

“We have to give the cabinet the space it needs to function well,” Bastien said.

Umno Mayang Pasir branch information chief Mohamad Nazri Abdul Latiff said the Supreme Council’s decision showed it placed importance on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree and the Malay Rulers Council, which had rejected Putrajaya’s request for emergency powers to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

He felt the Umno Supreme Council’s decision was a temporary measure to cool the political temperature at the current time.

“In politics, anything is possible. I don’t see Umno’s support for PN and Muhyiddin as absolute. Umno too had been bullied on several issues,” Nazri said.

“Umno has made some demands in the past and Bersatu has to consider some of them if the peace is to hold.

“I believe our support for PN is only until the next general election. We must continue to strengthen Muafakat Nasional (with PAS) and not stay with PN,” he said.

On Monday, the Umno Supreme Council called for a national reconciliation agenda comprising all political parties, including the opposition under PN.

Zahid also reaffirmed it will reject any cooperation with PKR and DAP, demanding better cooperation based on “respect” and “political consensus” from PN.

This was one of the conditions set by the decision-making body after all Umno MPs agreed to support and back the PN government.

Umno Sik division chief Mohd Tajudin Abdullah said he was happy with the Supreme Council’s decision not to work with opposition leader and PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim and the DAP.

“It’s clear now we reject DAP and PKR in this equation. We must adhere to the king’s advice and cease politicking and work on overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. We should focus on public health and its welfare,” he said.

Kubang Pasu Umno division chief Aminuddin Omar said supporting Muhyiddin was the right thing to do during this Covid-19 pandemic.

“The government needs some stability during this time to fight the pandemic. The decision is also in line with the king’s advice to stop the politicking,” Aminuddin said. – October 28, 2020.