‘Malay unity call has hidden political agenda’

UMNO will not support any movement that claims to unite the Malays but is actually rooted in personal political ambition, says party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid said any genuine effort to unite the Malay community must be built on shared ideals, not disguised attempts to revive political careers.

“We in Umno will never accept any form of secretariat that claims to unite the Malays under the guise of politics.

“We remain in Umno, and we will continue to be part of the unity government we helped establish,” he was quoted as saying at the Bagan Datuk Umno division meeting today.

Zahid is believed to be referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s proposal for a “Malay secretariat committee” to unite the Malays and restore their political power.

Announcing the formation of a loose Malay unity alliance on June 4, Mahathir said he would invite Umno members to join it in an effort to “restore Malay power” in the government.

He stressed, however, that he was not inviting Umno as a party to join the alliance.

Zahid described the secretariat’s formation as “a political move driven by the failure of a former prime minister who lost public support”.

“When someone finds that none of their party’s candidates won in the last election, and all lost their deposits, only then do they suddenly want to find a way to ‘unite the Malays’.

“And yet, it was that very person who previously divided the Malays,” he said.

He outlined Mahathir’s political journey – from leading Umno and becoming prime minister, to forming new parties after being ousted, only to lose his deposit in a recent general election -and said his attempt to form a secretariat was merely an effort to compensate for his political shortcomings.

‘Penyatuan Melayu ada agenda tersembunyi’

UMNO menyarankan agar agenda penyatuan dan perjuangan nasib orang Melayu perlu berasaskan fikrah serta jiwa nurani yang tulus dan ikhlas.

Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, apa jua inisiatif yang digerakkan atas sebarang nama perlu dilaksanakan tanpa sebarang tujuan politik terselindung, dan bukannya mengandungi agenda tersembunyi.

“Tanpa berhasrat mengetepikan mana-mana pihak untuk menubuhkan sekretariat atau apa-apa bentuk kerjasama, mari kita bergabung. Yang penting ialah fikrah, pemikiran dan jiwa nurani.

“Bukan ada tujuan sebaliknya, dengan matlamat parti yang tidak menang satu kerusi pun dalam pilihan raya lalu, apatah lagi hilang deposit, barulah mahu mencari jalan untuk penyatuan Melayu,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Mesyuarat Perwakilan UMNO Bahagian Bagan Datuk di Kompleks UMNO Bagan Datuk, Sungai Sumun, pada Sabtu.

Tambah Ahmad Zahid, prinsip penyatuan orang Melayu secara menyeluruh masih menjadi pegangan UMNO sejak penubuhan parti itu pada Mei 1946.

Menurut beliau, penubuhan UMNO ketika itu berjaya menghimpunkan pelbagai pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Melayu.

“Malah, perjuangan mempertahankan kedaulatan Raja-Raja Melayu turut termaktub dalam Perlembagaan UMNO.

“Begitu juga dengan usaha mempertingkatkan syiar Islam dan menjunjung kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu yang turut terkandung dalam Perlembagaan UMNO,” ujarnya.

Dalam masa sama, beliau turut mengucapkan selamat maju jaya kepada Pengerusi Sekretariat Melayu.

“Saya berdoa agar beliau berjaya menyatukan parti-parti Melayu dan NGO Melayu demi kepentingan umat Melayu,” katanya.

Minggu lalu, satu gerakan dinamakan Sekretariat Orang Melayu telah dibentuk bagi menyatukan semua pihak yang memperjuangkan nasib orang Melayu di bawah satu payung besar.

Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata, inisiatif tersebut merupakan langkah untuk mengembalikan kuasa politik serta menangani cabaran yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat Melayu.

 

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