In what appeared to be a pointed swipe at Pakatan Harapan, Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii has challenged those who were quick to brand Deputy Prime Minister I Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a traitor to extend the same courtesy to Deputy Prime Minister II, Fadillah Yusof.

The challenge comes amid an intriguing parallel in Sarawak, where Fadillah’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has declared its intention to contest all 82 state seats while ruling out cooperation with peninsula-based parties.

Razlan (above) drew comparisons with Umno and BN’s previous decision to contest state elections against its federal allies, which had invited accusations of betrayal from its political partners.

Razlan recalled that ahead of the Johor state election, BN had announced plans to contest all 56 seats, arguing that it was simply exercising its right to seek the people's mandate and retain control of the state.