Stronger together: People walking past a mural depicting the faces of Malaysian children at Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. Speakers at the unity convention will discuss various issues including the economy, nation-building and policies under the Madani concept. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural unity government’s national convention on May 14 will be a show of unity and foster greater cooperation among all its component parties amid talk of attempts to topple the Federal Government, says Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The convention is set to mark greater cooperation between various coalitions and component parties both at the national and grassroots level, said the secretariat chief of the unity government council.
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“Most importantly, it will steer the agenda in terms of social, economic and education (issues), to benefit the rakyat,” he said at Menara Dato Onn here yesterday.
Asyraf Wajdi gave an assurance that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s support from 148 MPs remains intact despite speculation that a plot is underway to topple the Prime Minister.
“I believe it is normal that some may feel uneasy and jealous of the strength of the unity government since they did not get to form the government first,” he added.
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Asyraf Wajdi, who is also Umno secretary-general, said the convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur themed “Madani Shaping the Future of Malaysia” will feature two parallel sessions in the morning and the main convention in the afternoon.
The parallel morning sessions will be the National Women’s Convention at Dewan Merdeka and the National Youth Convention at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, which will start at 10am.
This will be followed by the main national convention kicking off with a “Sidang Bicara Rakyat” (people’s discourse), which will be divided into three sub-sessions, each represented by parties in the unity government.
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At least 19 political parties including Muda and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), as well as other partners of the unity government, have been invited to attend and will be on board, said Asyraf Wajdi.
Asked to name the parties, he said the full list will be made known after it is finalised, but did not give a date.
Speakers will discuss various issues including the economy, nation-building, policies under the Madani concept and how they will be implemented.
Anwar, who is also the unity government secretariat chairman, will also deliver a special address.
The convention is expected to draw more than 10,000 visitors consisting of party supporters and the public.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the convention would be a time for the unity government to come together and showcase unity.
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“My hope is that the convention will really express the way forward for the unity government through policies that benefit people of all races, treating all Malaysians fairly and also treating every party fairly while also bringing something good for the country and the people.
“It is also fairly early since the unity government was formed, and it is not easy to amalgamate all parties as the unity government is a melting pot of ideologies and different parties,” he added.
PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the idea of the convention was to showcase the unity government after almost six months in power at the federal level, while building up to the six state elections.
“The idea is to show that the unity government formed post-election is focused on economic and institutional reforms for the sake of the rakyat.
“This is in contrast to the Opposition playing up racial and religious sentiments, as well as the obsession of getting into power through the backdoor,” he alleged.
Amanah vice-president Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa confirmed that its party leaders will be attending the convention.
“This will be the first such convention comprising parties in the unity government.
“This is aimed at strengthening the unity government as well as easing seat distribution (discussions) for the state elections so there will be no overlap of candidates,” he said.
He added that the convention will also serve to connect the various parties’ grassroots.
Muda secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi said any decision on whether the party will attend the convention will come after internal party discussions.
“If we do receive the invite, we will discuss it with our central committee and political bureau before coming to a decision,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Previously, the Muda leadership had expressed unhappiness at being excluded from the first two unity government secretariat meetings despite its backing of the unity government.
The youth-based party led by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had said it wrote four official letters to Pakatan Harapan to join the coalition but did not get a reply.
PBM president Datuk Larry Sng could not be reached for comment.
Sng recently said the party would hold discussions with the unity government on the possibility of contesting in the upcoming state polls except in Selangor, where it has taken the position to work with PKR instead.
