Former Umno veteran Annuar Musa has firmly ruled out returning to the party, despite its open invitation to former members under the Rumah Bangsa initiative.
Firm commitment to PAS
The former Umno Supreme Council member, who joined PAS in June 2023, told a press conference in Kuala Selangor today that he sees no reason to leave the Islamic party. He made the switch after careful thought about his political struggle, especially in defending Malay interests and Islam.
“I feel PAS is my future. There is no reason for me to leave. My struggle is important to me, not party positions. PAS has provided sufficient room for my personal struggle, and I am grateful for that,” he said.
Annuar expressed confidence that other former Umno members who crossed over to PAS would stay put. “As far as I’ve heard, none of them want to return,” he added.
Criticism of Umno leadership
Annuar revealed that friends and senior Umno leaders had personally urged him to come back, but he turned them down. He said the party remains under the strong influence of a “certain person” who still dictates its direction.
“I find that Umno is not guided by principles of struggle. Even now, this person determines the party’s direction. This is very different from PAS, where the syura council takes priority,” he explained.
Umno’s open-door policy
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced that the party’s doors are “unconditionally” open to former members. In the spirit of Ramadan, he said all past mistakes and differences would be forgiven.
The re-entry process for those wishing to return is being coordinated by the Rumah Bangsa task force, chaired by party vice-president Khaled Nordin.
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