Malaysia’s Umno won’t work with Muhyiddin at next election, party president says

The United Malays National Organisation is the largest bloc in the PM’s ruling alliance, but some of its leaders are unhappy

Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Sunday the party will ‘not be part of Perikatan Nasional’ at the next polls

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A man passes by a mural depicting Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: EPA

Reutersin Kuala Lumpur

Published: 7:15pm, 28 Mar 2021Updated: 7:15pm, 28 Mar 2021

Malaysia’s biggest political party and key ruling coalition ally Umno on Sunday said it will not cooperate with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s alliance in the next national election, deepening conflict within the ruling pact.

Muhyiddin’s 13 months in office have been beset with infighting and a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has wrecked havoc on the economy.

Umno, or the United Malays National Organisation, is the largest bloc in Muhyiddin’s ruling alliance, but some of its leaders have been unhappy playing second fiddle to the prime minister’s own party and have called for early elections.

Muhyiddin, who came to power with a slim majority in parliament, declared a nationwide emergency in January to focus efforts on fighting the pandemic, though his critics say he did so to stay in power.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, centre, pictured in 2018. Photo: AP

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will contest elections as part of the Barisan Nasional alliance it leads, and not cooperate with any other parties.