KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders have denied discussing the so-called “Pakatan Nasional” initiative during the party’s supreme council meeting today.
The media were earlier informed that Umno’s meeting at 3pm today would centre on the effort to unite three major Malay-based parties Umno, Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, following a news report claiming such a plan.
The claim gained traction after Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Adam released an audio clip, allegedly of party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asking Umno members to form new cooperation with Bersatu during a closed-door meeting.
Several Umno leaders when met at Putra World Trade Centre after the meeting refused to answer questions posed by journalists.
Umno Supreme Council Member Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin, however, told the media that plans about the purported Pakatan Nasional were not mentioned during the meeting.
“It was just a normal meeting. I’m the Umno Sabah chairman and I informed everyone of the current political situation in Sabah and we talked about post-Kimanis (by-election) victory.
“We didn’t (talk about Pakatan Nasional), only about Muafakat Nasional (Umno-Pas cooperation) and how we can further strengthen the latter ahead of the next general election,” he said.
However, Bung Mokhtar confirmed that several Umno big guns would hold a meeting with Pas leaders tomorrow.
“I won’t be attending. Only the highest level (leaders from) Umno. I’m a low-level leader,” he said.
Bung Mokhtar also denied the claim that Umno would be forming cooperation with Bersatu.
On Lokman’s controversial move to release the audio clip, Bung Mokhtar said the matter was discussed during today’s meeting but refused to say if his colleague would face action from the party.
“We leave this matter to the disciplinary board. Let them decide,” he said.
Pressed further if Umno supports Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Bung simply said: “If he does good things for the country, I’ll support him.”