KUALA LUMPUR: The rallying call of "dulu lawan, sekarang kawan" (Once foes, now friends) could be heard in several speeches during the main event of the unity government convention, reflecting the current partnership of one-time political adversaries.
"I was attracted to what my friend Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said in his speech," Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said, referring to the catchphrase used by the MCA president at the convention earlier on Sunday (May 14).
"Former foes, now friends. Before this (in the time of Reformasi) it was 'former friends, now foes'.
"At that time we had our own slogan of 'lawan tetap lawan' (the fight must go on). We have to adjust that now," he said, referring to PKR's "Reformasi" movement in the past.
Saifuddin said the unity government components "have not looked back" since its formation six months ago.
"What we want to take back from this convention is the confidence that this is a strong, stable and functioning government," the Home Minister said during his speech at the convention at the World Trade Centre here on Sunday.
He added that the government always upheld the fundamentals of the Federal Constitution.
A total of 19 parties mostly from the four major coalitions under the unity government umbrella gathered for the maiden national convention.
