KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub and party’s communication director Khalid Abdul Samad said Umno is not a liability to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.

Malay daily Sinar Harian reported Salahuddin who is also Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister as saying that the current government was formed on the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after no political sides managed to win 112 seats to form a simple majority in the last 15th general election (GE15)

He said the country is still recovering from the economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so it is important to prioritise the people and put political differences aside.

"So the biggest priority was the discussion on forming a government. So any political parties that have won these seats have to sit together and form a government.

"I think as of today everyone is working for the people,” he was quoted as saying.

When asked about the outcome of the recent Umno annual general assembly approving the motion to leave top two posts uncontested, Amanah’s Khalid said that it’s not a new phenomenon as other parties have the same practices of not contesting the top leadership.

He said that the decision to keep Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the Umno president has nothing to do with Barisan Nasional (BN) being a liability in the unity government.

"As long as the reputation is good, they play their role very well, insyaAllah (God-willing) if they can change into something better, we will rise in the next general election,” he was quoted as saying.

Two days ago, Umno approved a motion to leave the top two highest offices to go uncontested in its recent general assembly.

The Malay-nationalist party since then have received a mixed bag of receptions including from their own party members.

Previously, Umno secretary general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said that the party’s internal polls must be conducted before May 19.