Ahead of BN talks, Umno supreme council to discuss coalition’s future

Following calls from component parties for BN’s dissolution, the Umno supreme council is set to convene a meeting on the future of the former ruling coalition today.

The Malaysian Insight quoted party supreme council member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah as having confirmed the meeting.

Armand Azha reportedly called for patience while Umno's leaders deliberated over a recent joint statement issued by MCA and MIC with regard to their intention to explore a new alliance.

“The supreme council will convene today to discuss this. I ask everyone to be patient and steadfast until the meeting ends,” he said.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at 3pm at the Putra World Trade Centre. 

BN itself is set to hold its supreme council meeting tomorrow.

On Monday this week, MCA and MIC announced they were “moving on” from BN and exploring a new alliance, despite not formally leaving the coalition.

They said that the spirit of BN's foundation had been undermined, citing, among others, BN secretary-general Nazri Abdul Aziz's racial comments during the Semenyih by-election.

"MCA and MIC are, therefore, left with no choice, but to move on to explore a new alliance to reflect the true intentions of unity in diversity in its original intent," read a joint statement from the parties. 

At its general assembly last year, MCA passed a resolution to move a motion to dissolve BN.

Once a coalition comprising 13 parties, BN is now left with three after losing the 14th general election last May.