What’s in the name? Nothing, says Umno leader on PM, party president

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KUALA LUMPUR – Party vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is respected not because of his name but by virtue of him being the prime minister, said an Umno leader.  

Beruas Umno chief Datuk Azhar Ahmad made the same remark about his party boss Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying the names of the two leaders bear no weight in reality. 

Instead, he said, they are held in high esteem because of their respective posts – Zahid as Umno president and Ismail Sabri as the prime minister. 

“We must respect the presidential institution. We respect Zahid because we respect our president.

“We also respect Prime Minister Ismail Sabri, but not his name. There’s no meaning to his name.

“Coincidentally, he became prime minister. Therefore, we must respect him while he holds this position,” he said during the Umno general assembly here today.

Meanwhile, Azhar reiterated party calls to not work with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP or Bersatu in the 15th general election (GE15). 

He added that Barisan Nasional (BN) must face the looming GE15 as a solo coalition, repeating the mantra of “No DAP, No Bersatu, No Anwar”.

“We must be dominant. There will not be stability in the country if the said ruling party is not dominant.

“To have stability, Umno must be dominant in governing the country, and that is a must.”

Umno had endorsed the “No Anwar, no DAP, no Bersatu” stance since Zahid strongly rejected any cooperation with the PKR president.

In last year’s party general assembly, Zahid had “killed” the idea of working with Anwar, DAP and Bersatu, adding that BN will be contesting under its own logo in the next general election. – The Vibes, March 19, 2022