UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that the Opposition is out to “destroy” UMNO with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that it has signed with the Government.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman told delegates at the UMNO general assembly today (March 18) in World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur that the Opposition’s decision to sign the MOU was a suspicious move as they have always wanted to “destroy UMNO”.
“When they agreed to sign an MOU, they probably had an ulterior motive. I believe that they accepted us because they know it is a way to ‘kill’ us. They never liked us,” he said in his speech.
“I urge you to read the constitution of each of our opposing parties. [You need to realise that] you are sleeping with your enemy. They keep daggers in blankets. Do we want to renew the MOU [with them]?”
Zahid went on to add that he would “leave it to the wisdom of the Prime Minister” to deal with this matter.
Last Thursday (March 10) DAP lawmaker Anthony Loke Siew Fook said that Pakatan Harapan is open to the idea of extending the MOU with the ruling coalition despite being critical of government policies.
The Seremban MP said that the MOU deadline extension would allow the Dewan Rakyat to table and pass crucial legislation to outlaw party-hopping and possibly pave the way for other key laws such as a constituency development financing bill that would ban funding discrimination against Opposition MPs.
The anti-hopping law was among several reform measures that the Opposition had pushed for when they agreed to a political ceasefire last year.
The MOU will expire on July 31 this year.
In response to Loke, Zahid had said that the Federal Government need not consider extending the MOU and instead suggested that the Government seek a dissolution of Parliament this year to pave the way for a fresh general election (GE), claiming that public support is with BN at the moment.
“Why do they want to prolong until end of the year? It means they have internal problems. It means they are not confident. It means they think the people would reject them.
“To me, we should not give them ample time and opportunity to fix their problem, and to get their affairs in order.
“To me, we should not give them ample time and opportunity to fix their problem, and to get their affairs in order.
“The people have changed their tastes, it is now with BN,” he remarked, adding that BN should capitalise on the purported “feel good factor” while the wind is in its favour. – March 18, 2022
