KUALA LUMPUR:Differences of opinion in UMNO’s preparation for the general election, especially regarding the strategy which is considered the best, is seen among the major factors causing a split in the biggest Malay party.

Putrajaya UMNO Deputy Chief, Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, said the points of difference of opinion became more significant when facing the Sabah State Election (PRN) in November last year.

Among the debates at that time, he explained, was the attempt by certain groups to establish political cooperation with Pakatan Harapan Chairman, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP.

"There are groups that think we can only win if we unite the three parties - Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), UMNO and also Pas. The others can follow… PBS and so on.

"But there is another group that thinks there is no need for cooperation with Bersatu. The reason is maybe UMNO can go solo is because we won a lot of seats (previously). This is the beginning of polemics.

"And that is what I feel is a bit chaotic and it became the climax before the Sabah PRN, when there was an effort to get a new political alignment with Anwar Ibrahim ... with DAP," he added.

Tun Faisal said this while featured with Umno Youth Exco Aizat Azam in the Agenda AWANI programme hosted by Nazri Kahar, on Friday night.

Commenting further, Tun Faisal said, the proposed cooperation with Anwar and DAP has been rejected many times, both in meetings with Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament, as well as UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) meetings.

In fact, he said, the majority of UMNO at the divisional level could not accept the proposal because they were of the view that the cooperation between UMNO and Bersatu led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, still needs to be continued.

"Also the policy decision determined by MKT, namely no Anwar, no DAP, no Dr Mahathir. We support Muafakat Nasional (MN), strengthen it, strengthen cooperation with Bersatu, support cooperation with PN. That is the policy decision.

“But when there is an effort to support Anwar Ibrahim, make a letter of support for Anwar Ibrahim, that has become a violation of party policy. That is not the will of the party, but the will of the individual, and we have to differentiate this,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aizat, who is also the Merbok Umno Youth Chief, opined that although the effort to sever cooperation with Bersatu has its basis, it cannot be done without a solid reason.

He explained that the perception of UMNO at this time is quite negative, especially after it was seen trying to bring down the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government and considered crazy for power.

For example, Aizat said, the community and the grassroots of UMNO can accept if the cessation of cooperation is done because of the distribution of seats between UMNO, Bersatu and PAS does not reach a consensus.

"There is an attempt to overthrow the PN government that we have been with before. In my view, that is not right. Let the opposition do the work of bringing down the government, let it not be from within to overthrow the government.

“For me, this is what makes the people angry with UMNO when we have very good momentum before. This should be avoided by UMNO. We want to clean up the view of the people that UMNO is power crazy, it is not an easy thing,” he added.

Aizat said history has clearly shown that UMNO and BN have no place in the majority of young people and those on the fence in the 13th and 14th General Elections.

The culmination, he explained, was when for the first time UMNO and BN failed to defend Putrajaya.

"If you do not want to cooperate with PN, give a reason that is acceptable. For example, I have not heard the process of negotiating the distribution of seats has already taken place. It may not have happened.

"But why do we want to sever ties, we stop the relationship with Bersatu at this point. Let's negotiate on the seats first. We have to realise that when in GE15, UMNO cannot be the dominant big party like before, which can contest 120 seats,” he added.