Fungsi dalam kerajaan penentu masa depan UMNO

FUNGSI masa depan UMNO dalam kerajaan perpaduan mungkin bergantung kepada rundingan untuk mencapai kata sepakat berhubung keputusan dasar dan kuasa perdana menteri, kata Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertingginya, Puad Zarkashi.

Menjawab dakwaan penganalisis bahawa UMNO memerlukan 10 tahun untuk bangkit semula, menurutnya, kebangkitan UMNO bermakna kembali dominan dalam kerajaan dan memegang jawatan perdana menteri.

Beliau meramalkan UMNO memerlukan 20 tahun untuk mencapai matlamat itu sejak Barisan Nasional (BN) kehilangan kuasa pada 2018.

“Kini tujuh tahun berlalu. Tinggal 12 tahun saja lagi, iaitu dua tahun melebihi 10 tahun yang dicadangkan penganalisis Awang Azman Pawi,” katanya dalam catatan Facebooknya malam tadi.

Beliau berkata, UMNO membuat keputusan strategik yang bijak untuk menyertai kerajaan perpaduan yang ditubuhkan pada 2022.

“Berada dalam kerajaan sebenarnya memberi ruang kepada UMNO untuk bernafas dan bangkit semula.

“Dalam tempoh berbaki dua tahun lagi, UMNO mesti melakukan legitimasi keberadaannya dalam kerajaan hari ini. Masih ramai ahli akar umbi belum menerima kerajaan perpaduan.

“Umno perlu kukuhkan akar umbinya, kuasai naratif negara. Menteri UMNO mesti dilihat ‘perform’ dan perkasakan sayap-sayap parti.”

Puad berkata, jika UMNO mahu meneruskan kerajaan perpaduan, kerjasama politik perlu diperluaskan dalam konteks “konsensus dasar” dan rundingan “kuasa perdana menteri”. Tetapi, beliau tidak menghuraikannya.

Semalam, FMT melaporkan Awang Azman sebagai berkata, BN pimpinan UMNO memerlukan sekurang-kurangnya 10 tahun lagi untuk memulihkan sokongan akar umbi dan rakyat sebelum ia mampu bergerak solo dalam PRU.

“UMNO tidak mahu hilang identiti dan hanya menjadi pelengkap dalam pakatan (kerajaan perpaduan) serta bukan pemain utama dalam jangka masa panjang,” katanya semalam.

Puad dalam responsnya berkata, UMNO wajar bertanding dalam PRU menggunakan logo BN, tetapi terus bekerjasama dengan Pakatan Harapan untuk memastikan tiada pertindihan kerusi.

 

Future in Unity Government hinges on consensus

UMNO’s future role with the unity government is likely to hinge on negotiations to achieve a consensus on policy decisions and on the powers of the prime minister, says Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi.

In a posting in response to an analyst’s claim that Umno would need 10 years to rise again, he said Umno’s rise meant a return to political dominance and holding the prime minister’s post.

Puad said he had predicted it would take Umno 20 years to achieve that aim from the time Barisan Nasional (BN) lost power in 2018. “Seven years have passed, leaving 12 years, two more than the 10 suggested by analyst Awang Azman Pawi,” he said.

He said Umno had wisely made a strategic decision to be part of the unity government, formed in 2022. “Being in the unity government has given Umno room to breathe and rise again,” he added.

In the remaining time of the 12-year timeframe, Umno must legitimise its participation in the unity government, as many grassroots members remained wary of the alliance with former political rivals, he said.

“Umno must dominate the national narrative and strengthen its wings. Umno’s ministers must be seen to perform,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said a decision on whether to continue with the unity government would depend on expanded political cooperation in achieving policy consensus and negotiations on the powers of the prime minister. He did not elaborate.

However, Umno leaders have in the past sought a greater say in the decisions of the unity government.

Yesterday, FMT reported Awang Azman as saying that the Umno-led BN would need 10 more years to recover its grassroots support before the coalition is capable of going solo in general elections.

“In the long term, Umno will want to be the main player in alliances instead of just supplementing other parties,” he said, adding that dominance was almost a part of Umno’s identity.

 

Derma Tabung Perjuangan