UMNO leaders should stop fighting among themselves in public, said party information chief Shahril Hamdan as senior figures continued to trade blows on social media about the party’s position with respect to Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

“This has nothing to do with voters and is only a waste of time and energy,” said the Umno information chief in a statement today.

He said it was normal for differences of opinion on issues of ideology, party direction or national policy but infighting over the party’s relationship with other parties is a waste of energy.

Shahril’s comments come as Ketereh MP Annuar Musa, in a Facebook post, continued his attacks on Umno’s relationship with Bersatu.

He listed seven reasons for party divisions, including disappointment over the lack of appointments to the cabinet.

In an immediate rejoinder, former Prime Minister Najib Razak said it had always been Umno’s position to support Bersatu until the 15th general election.

“Read in the news that certain quarters have accused Umno leaders of rejecting co-operation with Bersatu because they were disappointed that they did not get any posts in the PN government,” he said on Facebook.

Najib said this was untrue because many Umno leaders had rejected offers of chairman or advisory roles at government-linked companies, such as Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Petronas, MISC Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

Last week, Perlis Umno created a stir by suggesting it will break away from central party leadership if the latter insists on ending co-operation with Bersatu at the Umno general assembly scheduled for the end of this month.

Subsequently, however, state chief Shahidan Kassim said Perlis will toe the supreme council line.

As of now, said Shahril, the party’s supreme council has already decided not to work with Bersatu, PKR or DAP in the next elections, but to preserve its co-operation with PAS.

The party, he added, has also decided to support the PN government until the next elections.

“Although, there are differences of opinion on this, there is no need to label anyone as traitors or agents of other parties.

“These are serious allegations that should not be bandied about without any basis,” said Shahril. – March 22, 2021.