KUALA LUMPUR: People who criticise Umno for working with DAP should not forget it was PAS that worked with the party first, says a delegate to the Umno general assembly here.
Pasir Salak division chief Khairul Azwan Harun said PAS started working with DAP in 2008 in what was then Pakatan Rakyat.
“Umno is not the first Malay party to have political cooperation with DAP.
“They (the Opposition) demonise us with the term UMDAP but in fact, PASDAP happened before us, with that cooperation even successfully forming the Perak state government at one point,” he said during debates on Friday (Aug 23).
"UMDAP" is a term coined by the Opposition to mock the cooperation between Umno and DAP in the unity government.
Khairul Azwan, who represented the Perak liaison committee, said Bersatu was another Malay party that worked with DAP before Umno, as part of Pakatan Harapan for GE14.
He said both PAS and Bersatu held Perak mentri besar posts during their respective collaborations with DAP despite holding minimal seats in the state assembly.
“The irony is that when Umno holds the MB post today, PAS and Bersatu spew insults and accuse the party of damaging Malay unity.
“However, history shows that their parties are responsible for the split in Malay politics,” he said.
Khairul also stressed the importance of educating the younger generation on political cooperation involving Umno.
Separately, he said the power-sharing concept implemented by Umno was an example of moderate politics practised by the party since before Independence.
He also stressed that Umno would continue upholding its principles of defending Islam, the Malays and the Malay Rulers.
“It is the best model to ensure the country’s peace and prosperity,” he said.
The Umno general assembly ends on Saturday (Aug 24).
