Umno’s political moves in several states are strategic measures aimed at maximising electoral gains, rather than acts of betrayal, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan said.
He said there were no agreements with Pakatan Harapan (PH) at state level in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, allowing Umno to pursue strategies aimed at securing electoral victories.
‘The leadership has to choose a strategy for maximum victory, not defeat. If we do not take a strategic step in Negeri Sembilan, Barisan Nasional (BN) will lose. Which party wants to lose?’ he asked.
Ahmad was commenting on claims that many delegates at the recent PKR national convention had criticised Umno.
Some delegates reportedly claimed that Umno’s participation in the unity government was dishonest and amounted to ‘backstabbing’.
Ahmad rejects ‘backstabbing’ claims
Ahmad rejected the claims, describing Umno’s political moves as necessary measures for the party’s survival.
‘Strategic steps should not be called backstabbing. They are strategic steps taken for the party’s survival,’ he said.
He said a three-cornered contest in Negeri Sembilan could result in Umno-BN losing, making it necessary for the party to adopt a strategy that offered the best chance of victory.
‘Elections have to be won. Surely we are not going into an election intending to lose,’ he said.
Federal unity government commitment remains
Ahmad said Umno’s position at state level should be viewed separately from its commitment to the unity government at federal level.
He said Umno remained committed to the unity government at the federal level, in line with the agreement signed by the parties.
‘Our agreement is important at the federal level, and we are fulfilling that agreement. The president and BN chairman have repeatedly said that we will remain with the unity government until the end of the term because we have signed an agreement,’ he stressed.
He said the absence of state-level agreements meant state leaderships were entitled to formulate strategies aimed at maximising their chances of winning in the next general election.
‘So when we want to win and do not want to lose, and the strategic steps taken do not violate any state agreement, why should they be questioned?’ he asked.
The deputy works minister was speaking after officiating the Nexgen Builders Contractor 2026 Convention: Building a New Generation and launching the Facility Management Good Practice Guide here today.
