PETALING JAYA: Despite the unease among certain party members, Umno veteran Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz is insistent on staying with Muafakat Nasional, saying that the entity is merely an NGO and not a political party.

Nazri also thanked Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi for urging him to leave Muafakat.

“Thanks for the advice anyway. But, I will not leave Muafakat because it is an NGO. It is not another political party,” Nazri told The Star.

Nazri, who is Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States, said he joined Muafakat because he believed in its philosophy of bringing Malays together for national stability.

“Muafakat is also an NGO and it is open to all Malaysians,” added Nazri.

Puad had said Nazri should leave Muafakat because it was an entity for former Umno MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa to maintain relevance.

“There is no use for Nazri to be there. Nothing can be achieved,” Puad told The Star.

Puad also cast doubt on the leadership ability of Muafakat members such as Datuk Noh Omar and Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.

“They, especially Annuar, don’t have the aura needed to unify the ummah,” said Puad.

Responding to Puad, Nazri said the Umno supreme council member was being speculative when he cast aspersions on the leadership ability of Muafakat members.

“If we want to know whether they can lead, then there should be an open competition for all posts, then we will know,” Nazri added.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 6), Annuar thanked Nazri for being a Muafakat member and also for buying him a meal at an unnamed restaurant.

“Muafakat remains as an NGO and its membership that goes beyond party lines, race, religion and culture, is open to all,” added Annuar.

Muafakat was initially formed as an alliance by PAS and Umno in Sept 2019 when Pakatan Harapan was governing the country. It aimed to unite the Malay-Muslim community or ummah.

Bersatu was invited to join after it left Pakatan Harapan, but did not formally enter the alliance.

In December 2022, Annuar announced that Muafakat Nasional was no longer a political grouping but a non-governmental organisation.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/08/thanks-but-no-thanks-says-nazri-after-puad039s-advice-to-leave-muafakat