UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi said that the upcoming Melaka state polls would be a clear indicator on how UMNO can win without any support from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
“It will also show whether Bersatu, a former Pakatan Harapan coalition member, can survive the election without the latter’s support, particularly the DAP,’ he said in a Facebook post.
Earlier this month, Melaka’s Governor Tun Ali Rustam dissolved the state assembly, paving way for a state wide election to be held after four of its state assemblymen withdrew support from chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
The four were Sungai Udang state assemblyperson Datuk Seri Idris Haron (UMNO), Pantai Kundur assemblyperson Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (UMNO), Pengkalan Batu assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent) and Telok Mas assemblyperson Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu).
UMNO leadership had since sacked Idris and Azman from the party for breaching party rules. Subsequently, the quartet had approached Pakatan Harapan for support, holding several meetings with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.
Choose your team, PAS
It is to note that the previous Pakatan leadership in Melaka was dislodged after Bersatu left the coalition, with Effandi joining the Perikatan Nasional team while Norhizam left the DAP to become Government-friendly independent.
The Election Commission had since set Nov 28 as the polling date for the state-wide election.
On that note, Puad said it was appropriate for UMNO to contest the polls using the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner, adding it would allow the party flexibility in determining its future direction.
However, the former deputy minister added that UMNO was open to a cooperation on certain winnable seats, except with Bersatu.
“And it’s time for PAS to make a stand instead of playing on both teams. This so-called Muslim solidarity talk using political rhetoric in only hurting out feelings,” Puad remarked. – Oct 19, 2021.
