UMNO’S decision to sever ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) is its own and does not reflect the position of MCA, MIC or of Barisan Nasional (BN), said MCA sources.

The sources added that such a decision was also not made during the BN supreme council meeting on March 3.

“This is the view of Umno itself. The BN supreme council has not reached any consensus to sever ties with the Perikatan Nasional or Bersatu.

“Currently, the situation in BN is unchanged, and PN is still PN, and our cooperation remains the same.

“MCA does not want political chaos with talks about dissolving the Parliament and returning power to the people when the Covid-19 pandemic is still rampant and efforts are being made to bring it under control.

“Otherwise, uncertainty will rule the day with the people being clueless as to who is in power to battle the pandemic,” a source told The Malaysian Insight.

Another source, meanwhile, revealed that a split in BN and PN right now would result in handing power to Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“I don’t know where Umno’s confidence to win the next general election is coming from.

“As it stands, PAS is backing Bersatu and does not look like supporting Umno in its move.

“If we split, it will ultimately benefit Pakatan Harapan.”

Yesterday Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi informed Bersatu president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that it would end its cooperation with PN and Bersatu at the next general election.

At the moment, Umno is part of the ruling government through BN, and it had previously rejected invitations to become part of PN.

BN, meanwhile, is made up of Umno, MCA, MIC and PBRS.

When MCA president Wee Ka Siong was inquired about the matter at an event in Johor a few days ago, he said MCA’s position was very clear.

“Since BN chose to be with the current government, it is necessary to fulfil this obligation and responsibility until it expires,” he said.

He also said that MCA was still in the government, thus the party’s support for PN will not change.

MCA sources also said that BN parties were unhappy with Umno for making statements on their behalf.

“Umno cannot speak or act on behalf of BN, it must reach a consensus among all member parties.”

As an example, the source cited Zahid’s appointment of Ahmad Maslan as BN secretary-general without putting it through the supreme council.

“It’s not that MCA and MIC disagree with his appointment, but Umno should not unilaterally declare such a decision.”

There was also another open difference between BN leaders today when MCA, MIC and PBRS leaders questioned a statement sent by Zahid in his capacity as BN chairman yesterday, appealing for the Agong to call for the parliamentary session to be held immediately.

Zahid in his statement said the appeal was based on a decision made at the BN supreme council meeting.

However, the BN component leaders said there was no consensus on that matter.

The BN secretariat today blamed a media officer for the confusion and for sending the statement without authorisation and had suspended him for a month, pending further investigation. – March 5, 2021.