Umno Supreme Council member Noh Omar said any party formed without clear goals would not be able to compete with Umno for public confidence and support.
Another Supreme Council member, Hamzah Zainuddin, used the phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing” on former Umno members who joined the new party, saying they were greedy for power.
Former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam, now a senator, said the formation of a new party merely to topple the leadership of Umno and Barisan Nasional was contradictory to Dr Mahathir’s own preachings when he was the prime minister.
However Supreme Council member Johari Abdul Ghani wished Dr Mahathir well in his efforts to set up a new opposition alliance. He said Malaysia was a democratic country and anyone could set up a new party.
Their remarks were reported by the Bernama news agency in separate reports on Saturday.
Noh Omar said the new party should have a clear manifesto and goals and be not formed merely to achieve one individual’s agenda or to fulfill the Mahathir declaration.
“In this case, what is the party’s philosophy and objectives? If it’s aim is to topple Najib Razak or to meet the goals of the Mahathir declaration, it is going to fail as proven by the results of the Sarawak elections and the by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar,” he said.
Noh pointed out that Umno had persevered and even grown stronger after its founder, the late Onn Jaafar, left to form a new party, and after some leaders left to form PAS and Semangat 46.
“So, the difference is that Umno is supporting a struggle …leaders come and go but the party remains strong, that is our principle.” But a party formed because of a certain individual would be buried when
the leader is gone.
In Malacca, Senator Mohd Ali Rustam pointed out that Dr Mahathir, when prime minister and Umno president, frequently reminded Umno and BN members to give priority to the party and leader. But now what was happening was to the contrary.
Juslie Ajirol of Sabah Umno’s Libaran division, said the new alliance led by Dr Mahathir would not undermine Umno’s strength in Sabah. However, he did not deny the possibility of individuals joining
the alliance.
Former Umno supreme council member Shafie Apdal, who is from eastern Sabah, is speculated to become a senior leader in the new party.
Those with Dr Mahathir “claimed to be fighting for the Umno cause, but look who is power crazy”, said Hamzah Zainuddin, pointing out that the new party was merely an attempt to make Dr Mahathir’s son Mukhriz
a leader
He rejected claims of a consensus among opposition parties. “They are not in consensus but only want power for individual interests,” he said and noted that Dr Mahathir had left Umno after Mukhriz was forced out as Kedah menteri besar.