BN, UMNO preparing to ‘back stab’ unity government - Puad Zarkashi

Former Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has alleged that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno are planning to "backstab" the Unity Government prior to the Melaka state poll. His comments were directed at Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who had stated that the party would remain a part of the Federal Government until the current term concludes.

Puad expressed his concerns regarding Umno's decision to cooperate with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in recent state elections, questioning their sincerity in fostering stability. He highlighted numerous criticisms against the Federal Government, such as their insincere defense of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji.

Puad further criticized the apparent cordiality in the Cabinet, deeming it merely a "Hollywood act." He took to Facebook to voice his discontent, accusing BN of not being sincere in defending the RCI report and questioning the authenticity of the Cabinet's unity.

The UMNO secretary-general's stance, as reported yesterday, is that Umno intends to stay within the Unity Government until the term's end, ensuring the continued smooth functioning of the administration and benefiting the populace. This decision aligns with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's perspective, who also emphasized the continuation of support for the Unity Government until the conclusion of the 16th General Election (GE16).

Puad contended that BN will persist in "stabbing" the government from within during the Melaka election, leading up to the upcoming 16th General Election. He reasoned that their reluctance to abandon the Unity Government is due to the inability to carry out effective backstabbing without political power. Additionally, Puad suggested that the Federal Government provides BN with immunity and protection from potential court actions, given the vulnerabilities of some Umno leaders.