UMNO MT Meeting: Notion that someone will be dropped from Cabinet should be ruled out - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: All notions that there will be someone from UMNO to be dropped from the Cabinet should be avoided.

On the other hand, according to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, Cabinet members representing UMNO are expected to work together as a team in voicing the people's agenda.

“The decisions of the UMNO Supreme Council Meeting show that the UMNO leadership hopes that they are in the Cabinet to continue to show excellent performance in the people's agenda and set aside any predictions that someone among them will be dropped.

"They should act as a team in the Cabinet and make sure it is implemented as best as possible which has to do with the decision for the 2021 Budget.

“The agenda is also possibly discussed in the UMNO MT meeting last night, including the moratorium.

"And the matter is probably what the Cabinet wants to bring to the authorities," he said when asked to comment on a media statement by UMNO President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday night.

In the meantime, Dr Sivamurugan explained UMNO's decision to restore the people's mandate by holding a General Election (GE) after the COVID-19 pandemic was kept under control can be seen to unravel the current polemic.

He said the decision was reached possibly to find a real decision with other parties.

“Perhaps for UMNO, they feel that if the situation calms down, priority should be given to the restoration of the people's mandate in order to stop this ongoing polemic.

"Maybe that is the option at the moment, and perhaps it is also considered to be able to unravel what is happening now that it feels difficult to find a real decision with members of other parties," he explained.

Zahid said in a statement Umno has once again reiterated that the Malay party clearly upholds the command of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Rulers to ensure the national administration is managed well guided by the Constitution.

Earlier, the UMNO Supreme Council meeting held at Menara Dato Onn last night ended after four hours.