Umno: Door on cooperation with Bersatu in Melaka polls firmly shut

(NST) – Melaka Umno says the door for negotiations with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on any cooperation in the upcoming Melaka election has firmly shut.

State Umno liaison deputy chairman Senator Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad said Umno would now focus solely on efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pas under the Muafakat Nasional (MN) initiative.

“Melaka Umno will not work with Bersatu. This decision was made at the Umno General Assembly last year.

“As such, all six Umno divisions in the state will reject any form of political cooperation with Bersatu and instead focus on working with Pas under MN,” he told reporters at a press conference in Baitul Tariq, Klebang yesterday.

Also present were Kota Melaka Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman; Hang Tuah Jaya Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali and Alor Gajah Umno division deputy chief Datuk Rospandi Leman.

Ali, who is also the state Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, said Melaka Umno would be strengthening MN and all negotiations with Pas would be via direct discussions.

“This decision is the wish of the grassroots, who have been hurt by the party’s (Bersatu) various actions, especially in Melaka.

“The state Umno has collectively agreed that there will be no negotiations, whether directly or otherwise, with Bersatu in this election,” he said.

Ali said it had already initiated discussions with Melaka Pas commissioner Datuk Kamarudin Sidek on the cooperation, and that more meetings would follow suit.