UMNO warns Azumu to stop stealing frogs

Malaysiakini:



Perak Umno claims state Bersatu chief disrespected PN's agreement

Perak Umno has hit out at Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu over the unilateral appointment of Umno's Pengkalan Hulu assemblyperson Aznel Ibrahim as the latter's political secretary.

Perak Umno chief Saarani Mohamad claimed that Ahmad Faizal, who is also the Perak Bersatu chief, had disrespected Umno and the spirit of cooperation among ruling parties, including PAS, in the state.

"I need to clarify that when an agreement was reached to form the state government, all three parties - Bersatu, Umno and PAS - have agreed in writing to exercise mutual respect on matters of appointments, be it as exco members, GLCs board of directors and other political appointments.

"By right, the appointment of any Umno leader or assemblyperson into the government must be discussed with the state liaison body in the spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect," said the BN Perak chief.

The Kota Tampan assemblyperson added that while he initially refrained from making an open political statement to allow focus on the battle against Covid-19, Ahmad Faizal had declared that he did not need Umno's permission to appoint Aznel.

Saarani Mohamad

"It must be remembered, the Perak government today was formed in the spirit of camaraderie and understanding to ensure Perak is spared from the threat of 'unhealthy politics'.

"Without the spirit of camaraderie, political stability in the state will be threatened," said the Umno Supreme Council member.

"However, it looks like the understanding and agreement reached when the PN state government was formed is now no longer respected.

"The fact is, it had been broken many times," Saarani claimed.

Aznel, who is also Pengkalan Hulu assemblyperson, was sworn in as Faizal's political secretary on Oct 15, only two days after the Umno political bureau announced that the party has considered withdrawing its support for PN, as well as setting new terms for cooperation with Bersatu.

Saarani further pointed out that Umno-BN with 25 state-assemblypersons represents the largest bloc in Perak's 59-seat state-assembly.

"But due to obedience and tolerance, we did not withdraw support when the menteri besar position was given to Bersatu," he added.

After the downfall of the federal Harapan government in March, several states, including Perak, also saw similar defections which led to a change from Harapan to PN.

In Perak, Faizal was reappointed as menteri besar on March 13, despite his initial resignation three days prior.

Perak Perikatan Nasional had at the time submitted the names of three candidates to state ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah - Faizal, Saarani, as well as Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria.

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kt notes: Why pro-academic qualification HRH chose "tree-hugging" (wakakaka) Faizal Azumu to be MB puzzled (still does) me?

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Today, FMT publishes:

Perak Umno gives ultimatum to PPBM

Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu has been accused by Umno of playing politics

PETALING JAYA: Perak Umno leaders have drawn a line that PPBM must not cross if it wishes to salvage what is left of the two parties’ political cooperation in the state, according to a well placed source.

The Umno insider told FMT the state Umno leadership had sent out a warning to Perak menteri besar and PPBM deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu against accepting any assemblyman intending to defect from Umno to his party.

“We are aware that overtures are being made to some assemblymen who are not division chiefs for them to cross over and become the bosses in their divisions,” he said.

“We have made it clear through emissaries that should any Umno person crossover to the other side or be accepted by PPBM, all of us will withdraw our support for Perikatan Nasional in Perak within a minute.”

The source also said Umno’s assemblymen had been warned against making moves that would undermine the party.

“If they do, then they should not be surprised if they are dropped as candidates in the next election.”

Yesterday, Perak Umno chief Saarani Mohammad told Faizal to stop playing politics and focus on the people’s well-being.

He accused Faizal of undermining Umno with actions that he said went against the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation agreed to when PPBM, Umno and PAS formed the government.

He cited Faizal’s appointment of the Pengkalan Hulu assemblyman, Umno’s Aznel Ibrahim, as his political secretary without Perak Umno’s blessings.

Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz, an Umno veteran, said last week that there was unhappiness among the party’s Perak leaders, particularly over the appointment of village chiefs.

He said village chiefs were now being appointed by a three-member committee of Umno, PAS and PPBM representatives whereas this used to be the responsibility of single parties, with a party elected to a constituency appointing the chiefs of villages in that constituency.