Is trouble brewing between Umno and Anwar, ex-DAP man asks after Shamsul’s disclosure

 

FMT:

Is trouble brewing between

Umno and Anwar, ex-DAP

man asks after Shamsul’s

disclosure

FMT Reporters

-17 Oct 2024, 12:33 PM

P Ramasamy says Umno remains the albatross around the coalition government’s neck.

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P Ramasamy said the disclosure by Shamsul Iskandar Akin (left) about not seeking a recount in the Bagan Datuk seat which he narrowly lost to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would not have been made without Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘blessings’.

PETALING JAYA: 

A former DAP assemblyman is wondering if all is well between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Umno following a recent revelation of what transpired in the fight for the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat at the last general election.

On Monday, Anwar’s political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, said he decided against calling for a recount of the votes cast on the orders of Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan chairman.

P Ramasamy.

In questioning the timing of Shamsul’s disclosure, P Ramasamy said the former deputy minister would not have divulged the information without Anwar’s 

blessings

.

“The question that remains unanswered is, why did Shamsul make this disclosure now rather than before.

Is there trouble brewing between Anwar and Umno in the present coalition government?

 the former Penang deputy chief minister and Perai assemblyman said in a statement.

Ramasamy, who currently leads Urimai, said there is a possibility that Anwar may be thinking of a long-term political coalition for the country.

And such a coalition might be predicated with or without Umno’s participation, he said, adding that one should not underestimate behind-the-scenes political manoeuvres that might destabilise the Malay-based party in the long run.

Umno still remains the albatross around the neck of the PH-led coalition government,

 he said.

Earlier today, Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi questioned the timing of Shamsul’s disclosure and asked what his motive was in 

bringing up this nonsensical story now

.

Shamsul, one of the three challengers to current deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the parliamentary seat, lost by only 348 of the 41,856 valid votes cast, with 748 votes declared spoilt, in the first count.

However, he said Anwar persuaded him during a 2.30am phone call not to call for a recount as Barisan Nasional had already agreed to join forces with PH to form the unity government.

The elections resulted in a hung Parliament as no single party among PH, BN and Perikatan Nasional obtained the simple majority of 112 seats in the Dewan Rakyat needed to form a government.