KUALA LUMPUR: Hours away from the Umno supreme council meeting on Wednesday (Sept 13) night, Isham Jalil has reiterated his call for Umno to have a referendum on its cooperation with DAP, saying he does not fear the axe for speaking out.
Isham, who is a supreme council member, said Umno has to fight for the rights of Malays and must not be seen as weak on this issue.
"We will be gradually rejected in Malaysia and in this 'tanah Melayu'.
"Datuk Seri (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), you can sack me and my friends from our positions and membership if that is your decision. But you will not break our spirits," said Isham in a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 13).
Isham said the referendum was needed as there was a disconnect between grassroots members and the party's top leadership on the cooperation with DAP.
"This is not a petty matter and concerns the basis of the party's struggle that should be discussed and agreed by all grassroots members, instead of being decided by a few members in the supreme council," he said.
Isham also said if Umno forces its grassroots members to accept cooperation with DAP and the "Malaysian Malaysia" agenda, then it faces the possibility of losing the next election.
"Even if we win a few seats, the victory will not be in Malay areas, Malay votes and our grassroots – it will be in Pakatan Harapan areas due to DAP votes.
"Our elected representatives will then be dependent on DAP and when this happens, we cannot fight for Malay rights any more.
"Umno's struggle for Malays in Malaysia will be buried and we will be a temporary party in Pakatan without any supporters and grassroots," said Isham.
He added that many party grassroots felt they were being forced by Umno's top leadership and Ahmad Zahid to vote for Pakatan and cooperate with DAP.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid had said that there is no need for a referendum proposed by Isham, saying it was just his personal view.
The Umno supreme council meeting will take place at the World Trade Centre on Wednesday night.
