The Malaysian Insight

THE muafakat nasional (national consensus) pact between Umno and PAS can be a “new deal” that includes all races for Malaysia’s future, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told delegates at the party’s 73rd general assembly today.

The pact is well received by Umno’s two Barisan Nasional partners, MCA and MIC, he said.

“Muafakat nasional is a new deal to the public and has potential for a million possibilities we have never thought of. 

“It is a ‘balanced politics’ that will help us prepare to face the 15th general election, with Malays forming the core and Chinese, Indians, Iban and other races recognised as partners,” Zahid said in his president’s speech at the Umno AGM in Kuala Lumpur.

The muafakat nasional pact was signed between Umno and arch-rival PAS on September 14 as a platform for the two opposition parties to collaborate following BN’s loss of federal power last year.

At first described as the basis of unity for the ummah (Muslims), Umno leaders are now playing it up as an inclusive covering for other races as well. MCA and MIC are ethnic Chinese and Indian in composition.

Zahid said non-Malay support for muafakat nasional was evident from the result of the recent Tg Piai by-election, which BN won by more than 15,000 votes on the back of Chinese support that had previously gone to Pakatan Harapan.

“The big win shows that muafakat nasional is increasingly accepted by the public as a new political narrative. 

“It is a measure of support from the Chinese and non-Malays.”

The Tg Piai by-election result also dispelled claims that Umno and PAS, the country’s two leading Malay-Muslim parties, are racist, he said.

PAS and Umno are also not in a hurry to form a government under muafakat nasional, as they did not agree with “backdoor governments”.

“Muafakat nasional will build a government through democratic means.” – December 6, 2019.