UMNO’s second in command Mohamad Hasan has questioned the party’s influence in the government, saying in a recent interview that it would make no difference if it withdrew from the federal administration led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The Umno deputy president also urged members to come to their senses and refrain from acting as though the party was still in charge of the country.

In the interview with Umno Online, he said this was especially the case given the party’s dismal performance at last year’s general election, where it won just 26 seats of the 30 bagged by Barisan Nasional (BN) in its worst electoral showing ever.

Right now, we’re at the mercy of others in the government,” he said.

“If we exited tomorrow with all of our 30 seats, the government would not fall.

“The government has 148 seats. It will not fall, so don’t play around. No one is scared. So behave yourselves.”

Hasan’s remarks came days after former Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob compared Umno’s cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to a forced marriage.

The former prime minister said cracks could already be seen between PH and BN in the wake of comments traded by Johor Umno leaders and several in DAP and PKR.