UMNO is worried Bersatu will expand its influence - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR:UMNO has acted drastically to bring a motion to sever ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) because it is worried that Bersatu will expand its influence.

Political analyst, Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Pawi, opined that UMNO was taking such an approach so that the party could regain its strength and dominate mainstream politics.

“I see if UMNO does not make drastic decisions, I think it will give space to Bersatu to grow further.

"In terms of political competition, we can see through the announcement by the Bersatu secretary-general himself about the opening of thousands of branches in the near future.

"This will definitely worry UMNO and if left unchecked, then there will be various efforts (from Bersatu) to attract UMNO supporters to the party and various other tactics will be used," said Dr Awang Azman in an interview with Buletin AWANI on Thursday.

Earlier, Bersatu Secretary-General Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that his party aims to have 8,000 branches nationwide within the next three months.

In a related development, Dr Awang Azman said UMNO seemed more confident to work with Pas.

"That is because of their confidence because if they only work with Pas, the distribution of seats does not need to be done a lot more.

"If it shares with Bersatu, automatically UMNO will no longer be dominant," he said.

On Wednesday, UMNO Information Chief, Shahril Hamdan in a statement after the UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) meeting, said his party will bring a motion to sever ties with Bersatu and maintain cooperation with Pas through Muafakat Nasional (MN) in the UMNO General Assembly on January 31.