Majority of Umno Supreme Council disagrees with president, says Ismail Sabri

(NST) – The majority of Umno Supreme Council members disagreed with party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s directive to withdraw Umno’s support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said Umno Supreme Council members including himself had spoken out during a recent meeting that the decision to retract the party’s support during the current pandemic was pointless.

Ismail who is also Umno vice-president said now is not the time for politicking as more efforts need to be made to assist the public who are in desperate need of help during the current Covid-19 outbreak.

“The Supreme Council member who did not attend (Wednesday’s) meeting was only Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid who is currently unwell.

“During the meeting, those present said they disagreed with the decision to retract our support.

“We believe that we need to settle issues involving the people first because they are burdened by many things and so, they should be our priority.

“We understand the people’s predicament and we are doing our best in finding ways to help them, so, let’s put this politicking aside for now. This is not the time to withdraw our support,” he told Berita Harian.

Ismail said while all Supreme Council members realised that matters regarding Umno’s support for Muhyiddin had been decided during the party’s 2020 General Assembly, this is the wrong time to bring up the issue again.

He said whatever decision the party wants to make, it must be done at a proper time.

“Our opinion on supporting the prime minister is still the same which is to focus on fights against the Covid-19 virus.

“Besides, the Supreme Council meeting had also decided that Umno members of parliament have the freedom whether support Muhyiddin or otherwise.

“So there shouldn’t be an issue, in fact, the Supreme Council has admitted that the MPs can decide if they want to support the prime minister or not.

“Also, MPs’ support for the prime minister can be voiced at any place and anytime, not just in the Parliament,” he said.