The Malaysian Insight

UMNO did not align itself with Perikatan Nasional (PN) as the pact needed Malay support to strengthen itself, Mohamad Hasan said.

The Umno deputy president said that by joining the unity government, Umno could continue to meet the needs of the Malay community throughout the country and keep the party going.

He said the party would be third in the PN scheme of things.

Mohamad said PN had 74 parliamentary seats while Barisan Nasional (BN) had 30, with Umno accounting for 26.

He said PN had wiped out Umno in Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah and in future electoral contests the party would not be given any priority in seat allocations.

“But with the unity government Umno will be the biggest Malay-based party and be in a position to champion the community,” he said. 

Mohamad said the experience gained working with PN during the time both parties shared power showed that the coalition led by lynchpin Bersatu, an Umno splinter, could not be trusted.

“The reason we joined the unity government is because we already had experience working with PN in the previous government. 

“We find it difficult to cooperate with a party whose existence and struggle, is to eliminate Umno, forever,” he said in his keynote address while opening the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings annual general assembly tonight. 

Mohamad said that they had similar experience working with PAS as they are never loyal or sincere.

“Without shame, they had worked with all parties including Umno (but parted ways eventually).

“Just look at their record, with DAP and PKR. In the end, everyone went their separate ways.

“With the experience of working together in a ‘marriage of convenience’, since the Sheraton Move, Umno feels that we need something more sustainable and concrete. 

“So, when Istana Negara proposed the establishment of a unity government with Umno, it was the best solution,” he told the delegates.

Mohamad said Umno had opted to join the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as it wanted to re-centralise Malaysia’s politics against the politics of its rivals, which have become far-right and divisive.

“Looking at how racial and religious issues were used as campaign fodder during the general election, we (Umno) believed that Malaysia must go back to the centrist path,” Mohamad said.

He said against this backdrop, Umno decided to go with the unity government.

“In the end, Umno chose to prioritise Malaysia,” he said.

The November 19, 2022 general election ended with Pakatan Harapan (PH) securing 82 seats, PN picking up 73 seats while BN secured 30 seats and became kingmaker in the formation of the new federal government.

BN later opted to go with PH, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. – January 11, 2023.