Stick together, Umno tells Bersatu, PAS in Perak

Umno has called on its allies PAS and Bersatu to stick together in Perak despite the party’s fallout with Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu which saw him toppled in a motion of confidence today.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in Perak is still in charge despite Faizal’s imminent exit, adding that there should be no change in the state line-up.

“Umno is of the view that Bersatu and PAS should back the PN state government,” he said.

“The confidence vote today only involved the Perak menteri besar’s post and not the status of the state government.”

His statement comes amid speculation that Umno could seek an alliance with PKR and Amanah to form a new government in Perak.

In the confidence vote, the three assemblymen from PAS chose to support Faizal, who is from Bersatu.

The move was endorsed by the central PAS leadership which also said it would not be part of any new government planned in Perak following Faizal’s resignation.

Meanwhile, Bersatu in a statement expressed regret over the move to topple Faizal but said it was still committed to the PN government.

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin also revealed that apart from the seven Bersatu and PAS reps who supported Faizal, there were one from Umno who broke ranks with the party’s confidence motion by supporting the menteri besar.