Umno will cease political cooperation if Islam, Malay agenda compromised, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Aware that its position in the unity government is constantly questioned, Umno has reiterated its pledge to cease political cooperation, should Islam and its struggle for the Malay agenda be compromised, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said that despite assurances being made time and again, certain parties continued to harp on this.

“They play on the narrative that the position of the Malays and Islam are under threat.

“They sow the seeds of hatred and disgust against Umno.

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“The fact is, we have never altered our stand on these issues just to be part of a government,” he said this in his policy address at the opening of the Umno general assembly on Friday (Aug 23).

While many have questioned Umno’s decision to be in the unity government, Ahmad Zahid pointed out that this was not the first time that the party had been in this situation.

Umno had adopted a power-sharing model with MCA and MIC after the general election in 1955, he added.

He stated that any power-sharing agreement with Umno must ensure that all parties acknowledge and accept its stand on Malay interests and Islam.

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Ahmad Zahid said this was also relayed to Gerakan and People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which had demanded equality when they were part of the Barisan Nasional coalition.

“The same stand was also made clear to DAP when we entered into the power-sharing agreement two years ago.

“This will continue to be our stand for any political cooperation in the future. There will be no compromise to any attempts to weaken Islam and the Malay agenda,” he added.

The Umno president also hit out at Bersatu and PAS, accusing them of the ones that “sold out” the principles of defending the Malays and Islam when they were in power.

He cited the example where when Bersatu was in the government, there were attempts for Malaysia to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) which Umno was against.

On PAS, Ahmad Zahid questioned what they have done to further the agenda on Islam when they were in power, pointing out that the Islamist party had gone silent on the amendment to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355) and that hudud no longer became their main agenda.