JOHOR BARU: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) has called for a “truce” among party leaders and members, urging them to unite to face the latest political challenges.

       Mohamed Khaled said Umno’s decision to retract its support for Perikatan Nasional did not only have a big impact on the Perikatan government and the legitimacy of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin as Prime Minister, but also had an impact on Umno itself.

       “A decision of this magnitude has its risks. This is politics... there will be storms and waves but what matters is the way we deal with it.

       “Umno must be a fortress for the Malays instead of being fragmented and going in different directions,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       The former Johor mentri besar added that in the current situation, it was very clear that the Prime Minister and Perikatan were no longer able to defend the existing government.

       He reminded Umno MPs in Perikatan “that your place in the party has never disappeared”.

       “Our journey within Umno has helped us mature together and our friendship must be permanent and everlasting,” he said, urging them not to break their ties.

       “Those who disagree among ourselves are not the enemies.”

       Mohamed Khaled also said Perikatan was nothing more than a space for Umno to contribute to the nation and country.

       “We supported it for the good of the country. We objected when it failed and was no longer on the right track,” he added.

       Mohamed Khaled said Umno’s priority should be finding a resolution to the national crisis and working towards victory in the next general election.