PUTRAJAYA – Umno will continue its support for the Selangor unity government despite not having any local council posts, pledged party president Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, was referring to a media report yesterday that quoted Selangor Umno chairman Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin as saying that they handed back the 20 posts allocated for Barisan Nasional (BN) to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“I respect their (Selangor Umno) decision and I think it should be respected by all parties.
“We are not disheartened, but we want to play a more independent role outside the local councils in supporting the state government headed by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shari.
“Furthermore, we have about 22 division heads for Selangor Umno, so we want to avoid any issue of ‘inequity’ when it comes to filling up local councillor positions. This is for the best.
“We also leave this matter to the state government and will continue to support them and their programmes,” he told the media when met at the Transport Ministry headquarters, here today.
Earlier, Megat said that Selangor Umno’s division heads did not reject the state government’s offer of the 20 posts, but instead, they returned the allocated posts to PH.
He said that this decision was made because Umno and BN want to focus on rural areas and leave the city to PH.
It is understood that Umno wants all 373 village development and security committee chairman posts.
Meanwhile, Zahid, together with Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, held an engagement session with the Motorcycle Association today.
The engagement session was for the government to hear motorcyclists’ grievances and suggestions for improving policies related to motorcyclists’ safety on the road, as well as for potential engagement with the Road Transport Department for future events. – January 22, 2024