Party matters: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (centre), Mohamad (on Zahid’s left) and other supreme council members acknowledging the delegates before the closed-door presidential briefing. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s decision to work with Pakatan Harapan to form a unity government was to return Malaysia to the path of moderation, with formal political cooperation no longer relevant in a fluid political landscape, says party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan.
He said the just-concluded general election had seen race and religion becoming campaign tools for certain political parties, to the point of being extreme.
Taking to the stage at the start of the Umno general assembly to explain the party’s decision to participate in the unity government that had been heavily questioned by its members and grassroots, he said it was crucial for Malaysia to return to centrism.
“Malaysia’s DNA is moderation. We cannot allow her future to be moulded by rightists or leftists,” he said during his speech at the opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings’ meeting last night.
He also said with the current political landscape being fluid, formal political cooperation was no longer relevant.
“This is the era of loose and flexible political understanding. There is no longer a party with a supermajority. Now is the era of the coalition of the misfits, but which can still function well due to the need to manage the country,” he added.
Umno, said Mohamad, was aware that many had questioned its decision to work with Pakatan to form the government, pointing out however that the party was not part of Pakatan and neither had it turned its back on Perikatan Nasional.
“We chose to prioritise Malaysia. Umno only participated in the unity government following a decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, so there should not be any issue about Umno’s cooperation with DAP, PKR or Amanah,” he said.
After the 15th General Election last November, in which no coalition had the majority needed to form the government, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had decreed for a unity government to be established.
The three main coalitions – Pakatan, Perikatan and Barisan Nasional – won 82, 73 and 30 seats, respectively.
On Nov 24, Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister.
In forming his Cabinet, Anwar appointed Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as one of his two deputies, as well as other Umno leaders, including Mohamad, as ministers.
Mohamad said since Perikatan had rejected the idea of a unity government, Umno was in a strategic position to play an important role in the country’s administration and high-level decision-making.
He said many had also questioned Umno’s cooperation with DAP – a member of Pakatan – which contradicted its earlier stand of “No DAP”.
To this, he said a political stand must be based on political realities and must fit current needs and dynamics.
“We know who DAP is. Just as we know PKR and Amanah. We made the decision based on the most suitable choice to allow us to manage differences.
“If we had chosen to be with Perikatan, we would merely be the third fiddle, sharing the same demographic interests. This will make it hard for Umno to manage differences in the future.
“What is for sure is that our decision to work with Pakatan has allowed Umno, the party that represents the interests of the Malays, to be in the government,” he said.
Mohamad said Umno’s participation in the unity government would allow for a Cabinet to be formed to reflect Malaysia’s diversity, adding that the tactic of appointing one or two representatives from the Chinese and Indian communities as well as Sabah and Sarawak was not the way forward.
“We need a genuinely Malaysian Cabinet that spells Malaysian aspirations. From our standpoint, being in the unity government is not just crucial for Umno but also the future of Malaysia,” he added.
