A UMNO leader trained his guns against a select high-ranking party officials, dubbed as “Umno 3.0”, for trying to dislodge the present leadership in an attempt to curry favour with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
“This is no longer a secret. Some of them made statements calling for party polls to be expedited as they feel it would solve Umno’s problems.
“While it looks like they want to vote out party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, I believe their real motive is more sinister than that,” its supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi said, in a Facebook post.
Recently, former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had warned that “Umno 3.0” members are plotting to destabilise the party, as the current leadership are opposed to Bersatu.
The Pekan MP claimed that “Umno 3.0” are in favour of cooperating with Bersatu, with many of them trying to undermine the supreme council’s stand to cut ties with Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan) after the Emergency is lifted.
One of those calling for early party polls is Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“Umno 3.0” fear harassment from authorities
However, several quarters have speculated that ‘Umno 3.0” are those opposed to both the “court cluster’ and “Cabinet cluster”, seeking to steer the party back on the right track following its losses in the previous general election.
Elaborating, Puad alleged that “Umno 3.0” are those who are afraid to lose their cushy Government posts when Umno decided to cut ties with Perikatan.
“They think it will be easier for them to win senior party leadership polls as they hold Cabinet posts. That is why I agree with Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, who called for those individuals to quit the Government.
“It’s simple to understand. Without party positions, they will be history. The only thing keeping them relevant is their Cabinet posts,” the former deputy minister opined.
Puad added that members of “Umno 3.0” were also trying to keep their Government jobs as they feared harassment from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
However, the former Batu Pahat MP said the group would fail in their quest, as Umno delegates have decided to cut ties with Perikatan.
“They think by ousting Zahid, they can overturn the delegates’ mandate. Everyone has agreed to the decision, including the ‘Cabinet cluster’.
“Where is one’s honour, when these people are trying to undermine the decision made by Umno delegates?” Puad asked. – April 11, 2021.
