UMNO 'can just talk', if they split with Bersatu they too will 'fall' - Tun M

LANGKAWI: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has stressed that the current government would not be able to remain intact if UMNO decides to sever cooperation with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

According to him, the two parties need each other as the cooperation involving several parties that form the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is currently in a precarious situation after the actions of some MPs from UMNO to withdraw support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former Prime Minister said UMNO can only be seen to be able to sever cooperation with Bersatu if it forms a new cooperation or alignment with certain parties that will enable them to have a sufficient majority to take over the administration of the country.

"If UMNO does not cooperate with Bersatu, Bersatu too will fall. (When) Bersatu falls, UMNO also falls because they also depend on Bersatu like Bersatu depended on them.

"They (UMNO) can only withdraw from Bersatu if they have other groups that work with them and have enough numbers to form a government.

“But so far (this) no one has enough numbers to work with UMNO. So, UMNO merely talks. When it comes to voting, they have to support Bersatu if they do not want to fall," he said met by the media after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine injection at the Vaccine Reception Centre (PPV) at the Langkawi Sports Complex, here on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir described the coalition of PN, UMNO and several other parties that are now on the side of the government as just a form of cooperation that is focused on preparing for the election alone.

The action, he explained, was very different when compared to the cooperation formed through the previous Barisan Nasional and the Perikatan which he described as a real coalition.

“Perikatan Nasional is a new coalition and they don’t seem to be merging very neatly, there are differences of opinions between them.

“UMNO, though they entered Muafakat (National) with PAS but did not enter the Perikatan Nasional, so they only made the agreement for the election only, not a real coalition like before, when we have the Barisan Basional, we have the Perikatan, that is a real cooperation.

“This one is just to face the election, just to find victory,” he added.

On Friday, Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed the hope that the coalition of several Malay parties that formed the PN government remained together until the 15th general election (GE-15).