PKR’s Tian Chua questions the hoo-hah over the announcement particularly since the former Selangor menteri besar was in semi-retirement.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan leaders today ridiculed the hype over Prime Minister Najib Razak’s “important announcement” after it was revealed that it revolved around former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib’s decision to rejoin Umno.
“Why such big suspense for this minor piece of news?” said PKR vice-president Tian Chua when contacted by FMT.
Calling the announcement a joke, Tian Chua said Najib’s build-up to the press conference was nothing more than a desperate attempt to get more attention for himself.
He said there was no need for Najib to gather all his Umno supreme council members for an announcement about a “recycled politician”.
“You make such a hoo-hah over a politician who has not been active in politics.
“Don’t know why he (Najib) is so desperate.”
Tian Chua said Muhammad, also known as Mat Taib, had been in semi-retirement for a long time. After he quit PAS, he was not active in PKR.
He said despite having invited him for numerous PKR meetings, Muhammad had said there was no “agenda Melayu” in the party.
“We are a multiracial party, of course, and we fight for all races. He knew it was what we stood for, so I think that excuse is very lame,” said Tian Chua.
“Most people are criticising Najib’s announcement as everyone expected Parliament to be dissolved or for the Selangor government to collapse,” she said alluding to rumours that even current Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali was going to rejoin Umno.
She said the news about Mat Taib rejoining Umno was rather disappointing and more like reading some “surat khabar lama” (old newspapers).
Muhammad was the former rural and regional development minister in 2009 before he was replaced by Shafie Apdal.
He had been an Umno and Barisan Nasional member from 1964 till 2013. He later joined PAS, which was then under the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat, before quitting the party in September 2015.
He then joined PKR saying he wished for a strong alternative government to be formed.