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'Umno nearly formed state govt with Pas' |
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Wednesday, 23 July 2008 08:12am |
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©New
Straits Times (Used by permission)
KLANG: Umno was on the verge of forming a coalition government in Selangor with
Pas after the March general election, said former Selangor menteri besar Datuk
Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
He said he led talks with Pas leaders for four days and
nights after March 8 in efforts to hammer out a deal but "outside" influence
scuttled the preliminary deal.
Commenting on recent talks between leaders of the two parties on Malay unity, Dr
Khir said he had discussions with Pas deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, Pas
Terengganu commissioner Mustafa Ali and Pas Shah Alam MP Abdul Khalid Samad.
Dr Khir said he even took them to meet Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi for talks, adding Abdullah gave his blessings for the coalition
government and that it would be the start of a nationwide cooperation between
the two parties.
He added that the deal was almost signed but Pas wanted to discuss it within the
party first.
Dr Khir claimed that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim learned of the
talks and used his influence through Pas secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin
Jaafar to derail the talks.
Dr Khir said all the Barisan Nasional representatives who won in Selangor were
informed of the talks, adding MCA was aware of it and supported the move.
Asked if it was a desperate attempt by Umno to cling to power in the state, he
denied it, saying Umno was only interested in a strong and stable government.
He said a two-party coalition was better than a three-party coalition as it
would have less bickering like what was happening now.
He added that the move to form the coalition was also in the interest of Malay
unity and to protect Islam.
In the elections, BN won 20 seats -- 18 by Umno and two by MCA. Pas won eight
seats, while Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP won 15 and 13 seats respectively.
Dr Khir said Umno offered Pas the menteri besar's post and also five executive
councillor positions.
He said MCA would have been given an exco position while Indians would have been
placed in high ranking government posts.
MIC lost all three state seats it contested.
MCA's Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Wong Koon Mun denied he was informed of the
talks between Dr Khir and the Pas leaders.
And Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said the meeting with Abdullah was arranged by a
third party and Dr Khir was present.
He saw it as an attempt by Dr Khir to hold on to the state and also to sabotage
Pakatan Rakyat's efforts to form the state government.
He said Pas decided to play along to Umno's tune just to buy time.
"They did not know that we had already endorsed Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the
menteri besar at that time."
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Circular No 297/2008
A "two-party" coalition was better than a three-party coalition as it would have less bickering like what was happening now, so said former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
Meanwhile, despite Dr Khir saying that the MCA was informed, one of the two MCA ADUNs, Wong Koon Mun (Kuala Kubu Baru), denied he was informed of the talks for a coalition.
Put together, and if true, this actually means that Umno considers itself "one party." The MCA is just a wing of Umno, although it is separately registered.
I guess this gives credence to the public perception that the MCA, which began as a partner in the 1950s, has been reduced now to a mere appendage of Umno.
Maybe, some MCA leaders would care to comment on this?
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng