JOHOR BARU: Umno is confident MCA and MIC will remain loyal to Barisan Nasional (BN) in facing the 15th General Election (GE15).
Its vice president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said any differences in opinions voiced by the component parties lately are normal and will not divide the coalition.
"There are differences of opinions not only among Umno members but also among component parties, it is nothing weird.
"Even when we were the government, there were statements from the component parties that were harsh but that did not divide us.
"When we lost the last general election, a lot of parties left us but MCA and MIC remained with us.
"So, the differences in opinions will not divide the component parties in BN. I am confident that MCA and MIC will remain with BN," Ismail Sabri said after launching the Bangkit 15 programme, here.
Also present were Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Johor Umno deputy chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
In the recent Umno General Assembly, the BN backbone announced that it would not cooperate with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the next general election.
In another matter, Ismail Sabri acknowledged that there were differing views among Umno members on the audio clip that supposedly featured party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"So far, I don't want to say that it (the clip) has divided the party but there are different views on the matter. Some say it is true, some say it is fake.
"The best way is for the police to investigate. Reports have been lodged by some Umno members and yesterday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani was reported as saying that an investigation paper on the issue has been opened.
"So we hope the police would conclude the investigation quickly. When the result is out, I believe any speculations or differing views will be settled," said Ismail Sabri.
On April 7, a four-minute audio clip of an alleged telephone conversation between Ahmad Zahid and Anwar went viral on social media.
Both Ahmad Zahid and Anwar had since denied their involvement in the audio clip.
On the call by certain Umno members for Ahmad Zahid to step down as president, Ismail Sabri said every member has the right to voice their opinion as Umno is a democratic party.
"I believe every member is free to voice their opinion and we have never stopped them from doing so, as this is the Umno way.
"Members can say whatever they want but in the end, it is up to us at the leadership level to make the appropriate decision," said Ismail Sabri.