What lies ahead for Umno: Working with PAS, functioning as a credible Opposition
Today’s meeting will be crucial for Umno as its leadership will have to decide on whether their newly-elected president Zahid should be Opposition Leader in Parliament.
(MMO) – Fresh from its party elections held on Saturday, Umno’s top leaders are set to meet today in what will likely be its last supreme council meeting before the next Parliament session convenes on July 16.
It will be the first Parliament session since Umno and Barisan Nasional’s historic defeat in GE14 at the hands of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, and will also be the first session where the Malay nationalist party finds itself as a member of the federal opposition, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Malay Mail understands that a chief concern among some Umno supreme council members is the ability of the new leadership to ensure all of its members close ranks as quickly as possible; and the present the party as a credible Opposition when Parliament convenes.
Alliance with PAS; strength in numbers
Although Umno has flirted with this idea before, working together with PAS in Parliament will be a possibility, now that the former is left with just 51 MPs — following the exit of Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, and Bagan Serai MP Datuk Noor Azmi Ghazali.
“We may discuss Umno and PAS cooperation in the upcoming parliamentary session in our first supreme council meeting this Wednesday. This is important so that our role to provide a ‘check and balance’ of the PH government is more effective, especially on common issues to both Umno and PAS.
“There is also a need to coordinate between all the Opposition parties in Parliament so that no issue close to the people is left unattended,” Umno supreme council member and former federal minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan told Malay Mail when contacted.
Another Umno supreme council member, Datuk Lokman Noor Adam said that the issue of cooperation between the two parties will be discussed, and that the party already has an informal understanding with PAS on issues relating to Malay rights and Islam.
“I have been made to understand that at this moment, we have a mutual understanding between Umno and PAS that we will be together in issues related to race, Rulers and religion,” he told Malay Mail.
Zahid, and the role of Opposition Leader
Today’s meeting will be crucial for Umno as its leadership will have to decide on whether their newly-elected president Zahid should be Opposition Leader in Parliament.
It is understood that the party is divided about this; as some believe that Zahid should focus on rebuilding the party and give up the post to another Umno MP.
By convention, Umno will get to decide on who becomes Opposition Leader as it still has 51 MPs. PAS has 13, MIC and MCA, while two other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, have three MPs between them.
Newly formed state coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has 19 MPs.
Zahid has said that a pre-council meeting between Umno, PAS and Opposition MPs is expected to be held sometime within the next two weeks.
“Tomorrow’s meeting, we will decide on who should be Opposition Leader. We can consider someone else taking over because I don’t think Datuk Seri Zahid is very keen to take that position, he may or may not.
