Reaching a dead-end, UMNO has to make a choice, cannot afford to go it alone - Ahmad Jazlan

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO is now on a dead end and tied to the game of certain parties, said Kelantan UMNO Chairman, Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

In this regard, he urged UMNO to make a choice on the path to be taken in putting back the biggest Malay party at the top.

"Why do we have to bind ourselves that will kill us or we will be killed?

“Will UMNO be stronger with the current situation?

“The answer is we must make a choice of which path to take in order to put UMNO back on top even if it has to take some time because the path we are going through now is a dead-end,” he said in a statement.

The Machang Member of Parliament said UMNO needs to set its direction after being overthrown by Pakatan Harapan (PH), of which Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) was a member in the last General Election.

At the same time, Ahmad Jazlan reminded that UMNO cannot afford to go it alone without teaming up in any coalition.

“Why does UMNO need to be too tied up? Which coalition rejected UMNO in the last GE? Isn't it by the Bersatu coalition that is together with DAP and PKR?

"We have been trapped in a game that the people will seemingly reject us if we are with that person or this person.

“So, who does UMNO want to be with? We cannot afford to be alone. Continue with Bersatu who wants to kill us? Can we guarantee that the people are fond of today's government led by Bersatu?,” he asked.

Ahmad Jazlan also said that when the party decided to join the government coalition, UMNO had given various excuses such as no financial resources to move after losing in GE14.

“Now do we have the money to move? UMNO’s money has not been released in total, while it is clear that the money belongs to the party and that it has nothing to do with 1MDB,” he said.

Apart from that, Ahmad Jazlan said, UMNO also did not get any change or benefit compared to before and after joining the government.

Among the difficulties that UMNO has to face, he stressed, is the difficulty of finding a place for a meeting of delegates to the extent that some had to hold it under the tent and no government department gives them a way to organize programmes.

Earlier this week, Ahmad Jazlan announced his resignation as chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) a day after he urged the Perikatan Nasional (PN) to dissolve Parliament this month.