Umno info chief throws spanner in tie-up with Anwar

An Umno leader appears to have broken ranks with calls to engage with Pakatan Harapan, saying the party should not be dancing to the tune set by others.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said the party’s refusal to work with Bersatu in the next general election should not be seen as acceptance of its other political enemies.

He reminded Umno that it was still bound by the decision reached at the party’s general assembly in 2019, rejecting cooperation with PKR and DAP.

“If Anwar is still talking about political negotiations and official cooperation with Umno, that is his right to speak, just as he has been relentlessly claiming to have a majority in Parliament,” Shahril said.

“We don’t have to dance to the tune of others but should instead focus fully on strengthening the party internally, while working hard to win the confidence of the people.”

Anwar Ibrahim recently admitted that his party and Umno had been in negotiations for a possible alliance, on the back of statements by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak seen as in alignment with the PKR leader.

“It is something positive. Because we will understand them more and they will understand us more,” Anwar said in a recent interview.