PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said he is perplexed as to why an Umno leader is urging its members to support DAP.

The request was quite unusual, said the Bersatu chief, who was in Umno for almost 40 years.

“This is a strange matter, so it depends on whether they (Umno members) will uphold their party’s principles. It’s an awkward instruction,” he told reporters during a Raya open house in Pagoh today.

Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan reportedly urged Umno supporters in six states to vote for DAP candidates in a bid to strengthen the unity government.

Ahmad was quoted as saying this is the appropriate thing to do as Umno is part of the government.

Muhyiddin said a PN study found that in the last elections, support did not shift from Umno to DAP.

“What happened was that they (the voters) supported PN because Umno’s struggle is not the same as before,” he said.

When asked if Ahmad acted out of desperation, Muhyiddin said any action by Umno’s current leaders, especially by its president, is dragging the party to its end.

“They (Umno) have said things that contradict their struggles and principles. I know because I used to be the party’s deputy president… and everything is not in line with the party’s original struggle.

“The state elections will prove the majority of Malays will no longer support Umno,” he said.

Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu are due to hold their state elections in the second half of the year. – May 20, 2023.