Annuar Musa claims Zahid's letter to Muhyiddin premature

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO's decision to sever ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the 15th General Election (GE15) is premature, said former Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said there was no need for Zahid to "quietly send a letter of notification not to cooperate" with Bersatu.

"When the cooperation between the two parties started, there was no correspondence to start the cooperation.

“What more for something that is still far ahead," he said through his Facebook account on Thursday.

Annuar said the ruling Perikatan Nasional administration still had a long time in its mandate before the general elections is due.

"The GE (Parliamentary mandate ends) is in 2023. Various things can happen in that long period. It puts the party (UMNO) at a disadvantage. What more at a time when the party has to go through mandatory party elections this year.

"The party's policy during the next election will be determined by the leader who leads during the GE. Many things can happen between now until Parliament is dissolved.

“With this premature (premature) stance, we have made ourselves lame (a lame duck) and our bargaining power in the government has weakened.

"Those who bear the consequences are the members at the grassroots," he added.

The Ketereh Member of Parliament was commenting on a letter sent by UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamid to the Prime Minister and Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin informing the decision of the UMNO Supreme Council.

The letter sent by Zahid, among others, explained the decision of the UMNO Supreme Council meeting in Janda Baik recently.

“First, there is no cooperation with Bersatu in GE-15.

"Second, togetherness in the Perikatan Nasional government can continue until the dissolution of Parliament," the letter said.