Umno cannot depend on Harapan forever - Shahidan

Umno cannot depend on Harapan forever - Shahidan


Umno cannot be dependent on Pakatan Harapan forever to remain in power, said former party member Shahidan Kassim.

Instead, he opined that Umno should cooperate with Perikatan Nasional (PN) instead.

"Umno now has 26 parliamentary seats. It is indeed big. But, in terms of participation in the government, it is small.

"So, it cannot administrate (govern) by riding on others. This cannot (last) for long. Sometimes people allow themselves to be ridden on, but it cannot be for everyone.

“Umno is riding on Harapan. It should have cooperated with PN,” he said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Shahidan is now with PN after being dropped from BN’s candidate list in GE15.

However, after contesting under the PN banner, he won the Arau parliamentary seat.

Following a hung parliament from GE15, Umno decided to enter into a coalition government with Harapan instead of PN.

Earlier, Shahidan said some Umno leaders' support for PN was increasing.

"I heard a story at PAU (Umno General Assembly) that 10 Umno warlords will join PN. I have no information about these Umno leaders.

“Umno's support at the bottom (grassroots) is vital. Many Umno leaders will support PN (in the upcoming state elections).

“In the general election, we didn’t win because of PAS or Bersatu but because the rakyat supported us,” he said when asked if Umno leaders would support PN in the six state elections.

Shahidan explained that his primary mission was not to contest in the elections but to help PN win.

“Whether I am contesting (or not) is secondary, but I have no issue with it. It’s up to the PN leadership.

“I can contest anywhere, but helping PN win is still the main thing for me," he said.