Umno turns down 3-party pact to ‘end Anwar’s political career’

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan has turned down a proposal for the party to work with PAS and Bersatu in Tambun in order to “end PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s political career”.

(FMT) – Ahmad said Barisan Nasional (BN) will field its own candidate for the Tambun seat, despite a PAS leader’s suggestion that Umno not challenge Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu in the parliamentary constituency.

“We do not have any pacts (for BN) to make way for (any opposing parties) in any seats in the 15th general election (GE15),” he said in an interview with FMT.

The former Pontian MP said BN will field candidates even if they had to brave a three- or four-cornered fight for the seat, adding that the coalition did the same in the Melaka and Johor state polls.

Ahmad claimed Malaysians who wanted stability and prosperity for the country would definitely choose BN to govern the nation in GE15, regardless of the candidates fielded.

Yesterday, PAS central committee member Zuhdi Marsuki urged Umno, PAS and Bersatu to form an electoral pact so that Anwar could be defeated in Tambun.

“If this happens, Anwar’s political journey will end,” he said, adding that the PKR president was a major contributor to the country’s “endless political crisis”.

“In return, Umno could field a candidate for the Hulu Kinta state seat while PAS could do the same in Manjoi.”

Both seats come under the Tambun parliamentary constituency and were previously held by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Tambun was a BN stronghold but fell to PH in the last general election (GE14) when Bersatu was part of PH. However, the party left PH following the Sheraton Move in February 2020.

Last week, Anwar announced that he will be contesting the Tambun parliamentary seat instead of defending his Port Dickson seat.