Puad said Annuar had been openly hitting out at Umno and its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to make the party look divided, claiming that Annuar was executing the “enemy’s game plan”.

“That’s why the decision to remove Annuar as Barisan Nasional secretary-general was the right one. PPBM lost their weapon that could split Umno from within. Don’t be surprised if, one day, Annuar stands on a PPBM stage to attack Umno, as Muhyiddin once stood on a DAP stage to do the same,” said Puad.

He said the “No Anwar, no DAP” slogan often touted by Annuar was the strategy used by PPBM president Muhyiddin, secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, and Supreme Council member Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The slogan was aimed at confusing Umno members and splitting the party. However, he said the issue of Anwar and DAP had never surfaced at the party’s leadership meetings recently.

“Annuar said Umno is split three ways. He forgets that it’s split because there have been power brokers since Umno lost (in the 2018 general election),” Puad said.

“Some wanted to sell Umno to Dr Mahathir Mohamad (then chairman of PPBM). They became frogs and joined Hamzah Zainudin and the gang. Some didn’t jump. Now, they want to sell Umno to Muhyiddin. So why is Annuar surprised about Umno splitting in three. He’s a part of it,” Puad claimed in a Facebook post today.

He rejected Annuar’s remarks that Umno would come to an end if it chose the wrong partners at the next general election, saying the party had been able to bounce back from tougher circumstances, including the time it was deregistered.

“Umno had a Team A and Team B. Umno has given birth to several splinter parties. Umno has even experienced losing power. Did Umno come to an end?

“That’s why Umno doesn’t want to work with PPBM,” he said. “PPBM clearly stabbed Umno from the back. After 11 months with Perikatan Nasional, PPBM has been a dishonest friend.”

He claimed that Annuar would continue hitting out at Umno but added that Annuar also knew that the party would continue to stay relevant.