ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno Information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin has ticked off a PKR lawmaker for calling Umno to replace president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in order for the party to regain support of the Malays.
Shaiful said the outspoken PKR Pasir Gudang Member of Parliament Hassan Karim should have worked together to further strengthen the Unity government instead of openly criticising a president of a component party.
"I am shocked today upon reading a statement issued by a PKR MP Hassan Karim who asked for Zahid to be replaced. This is a funny statement.
"Firstly, the statement was issued out of the blue. To say that the Unity government is weakening is not the case. If it is weakening, then the opposition MPs will not join the government in droves.
"It is because they are confident that the Zahid-Anwar partnership is strong, so they dared to join the Unity government.
"Who is this Hassan Karim? I am confident that he himself is aware that he has no place in the current political sphere. Hence, probably the statement is an attempt to seek attention, spotlight from the public," he said in a statement today.
Shaiful also hit out at Hassan for claiming that Pakatan Harapan has foregone its reform agenda and asked whether the latter failed to see the efforts undertaken by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration to weed out corruption.
"Even the large sharks that were untouchables before this, are being taken action by Anwar.
"The three most powerful Tuns in Malaysia are also shaken by Anwar Ibrahim's progress. One Tun has stepped down from the throne, the other one no longer has command power while the third one is now wheelchair-bound," he said.
Although he did not name names, it is understood that Shaiful is referring to former Sarawak chief minister and governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Daim Zainuddin.
"In fact I am shocked with the statement that the Unity government is getting weaker. The Unity government commands support of over two-third majority (in Dewan Rakyat). When was the last time a government commanded two-third majority? It was during Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) time!," he said.
Shaiful, who is also Merbok Umno division chief, also hit out at Hassan for being a populist by arguing the Unity government decision to do away with pension schemes among civil servants.
"The move to do away with pension, withdrawing subsidies are reasonable based on the current economic status.
"The people are not stupid. Eventually they will understand why the Unity government rolled out the initiatives which will certainly create economic spill-over for the people.
"Lastly, it is better to be silent instead of doing empty talk. We in the government should work together to develop this country. Any attempt to belittle the leadership without the right basis is totally unacceptable," he said.
Yesterday, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported Hassan as calling for Umno to replace Zahid as it cannot afford to ride on Pakatan Harapan's "fragile" coat-tails in the next general election.
Hassan had said Umno needed a fresh leader with integrity and charisma to help Umno regain the support of the Malays, which is the key factor in Barisan Nasional's (BN) dismal performance at recent elections.
He was reported as saying that in the current situation, it would be tough for Umno to regain the support of the Malay voters for as long as Zahid remained as its president.
It is believed that Hassan made the remarks in response to Zahid's recent hint that the cooperation between BN and PH would continue beyond the 16th general election.
Hassan has also warned that drastic reforms such as ending the government pension scheme could incur the wrath of Malay voters.