By Clara Chooi - The Malaysian InsiderPETALING JAYA, March 2 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) said current developments in PKR not only showed the party’s failure to function as a viable alternative but also gave renewed spirit to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).
He said it was clear from the present crisis in PKR that it was not easy to run a party, what more a state or the whole country.
“This shows that even before they are given power to rule the nation, they are already facing problems,” the Home Minister said today.
Two PKR MPs quit the party over the past two weeks while several former leaders have also walked out, with ex-Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohd Fairus Khairuddin joining Umno.
“They not only failed to stick to their promises and prove they are better than us, they have also failed to obtain the people’s support and now, they are even losing the confidence of their own elected representatives.
“This shows that it is not that easy to run a party or even a state. So to me, this is not only a sign, but it can also give a little spirit to us in Umno and Barisan,” he said.
Hishammuddin added that in comparison, BN had proven its success for the past 52 years.
“To rule a community with such high expectations and of such diversity is not easy but we did it for 52 years,” he told reporters after attending a crime briefing at the Petaling Jaya City Council hall in Kota Damansara here.
Hishammuddin, however, warned fellow party members and BN component party members not to allow the developments in PKR to cause them to stray from achieving their goals.
“Whatever happens in PKR, do not allow it to make us stray from our promises to the people. We said ‘people first’ and that we would go to the ground so we must stick to that. We must not rely on the status of the opposition parties to win support.
“I would like to remind this to all Umno and Barisan members,” he said.
When asked if the resignations of the two PKR MPs showed that de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was slowly losing his Putrajaya dream, Hishammuddin smiled and said that things had a way of coming back to a person.
“Anwar has been speaking about Putrajaya since September last year. Do not forget that. The world is round. And in the end, even with all his allegations that Barisan members were going to jump to PKR, look at what is happening now.”
Yesterday, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng quit PKR, citing disappointment in the party leadership. His departure came shortly after Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim left for similar reasons.
The recent developments have sparked rumours that more PKR MPs and even assemblymen may soon follow suit.
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