KUANTAN: The call by Prime Minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Umno to be dissolved has been likened to an ‘act of desperation’.
Pahang Umno information chief, Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, said it appeared to show that PPBM is afraid of being kicked out of Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said it is PPBM which should instead be dissolved, with its members joining Umno because the former does not have many elected representatives and has a low membership.
“They are the ones who should be dissolved and join Umno. They don’t have many elected representatives and very few supporters. They fear being edged out by DAP and PKR someday, which is why they need Umno’s elected representatives and members,” he said.
Syed Ibrahim was commenting on a statement made by Dr Mahathir on Friday, in which he urged Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve the party, claiming that it no longer championed the interests of the race, religion and country.
Syed Ibrahim, who is also the Pahang religious affairs, education and health executive committee chairman, said Dr Mahathir should return to Umno and strengthen the party if he is sincere in wanting to fight for race and religion.
‘If he (Dr Mahathir) feels that Umno has flaws, then he should join Umno and address the problems from within. Not issue statements as if he is afraid of Umno. The way I see it, he will find any way possible to destroy Umno,” he said.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth deputy information chief, Mohd Shahar Abdullah, said Dr Mahathir’s statement seemed to be part of the government’s strategy to cover up their own instability.
The Paya Besar member of parliament said, contrary to Dr Mahathir’s claims, Umno has never strayed from its struggles and is even now growing stronger at the grassroots level.
“Umno was created on a platform of a struggle, not of hate. We have never changed, our constitution has never changed even though its leaders come and go. There is no reason why Umno should be dissolved.
“We feel that the weaknesses and instability of PPBM are the reasons why Dr Mahathir is still issuing statements on a party he once helmed for 22 years,” he said.