Anwar Ibrahim criticised Umno for not addressing key issues affecting the Malays and the country during its annual general meet.

However, he conceded that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak appeared to be strong in the party.

"The bashing of DAP and Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not the answer," he said.

As Umno president, he said Najib should have made a stand on the decrease in Malay reserve land and loss of Malay shares.

"Malay interest is the responsibility of the government and this has not been addressed," he added.

 

“In Pakatan Harapan and also including the DAP, we are committed to uphold the provisions in the federal constitution,” he said, in deflecting Najib's accusations against DAP as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Najib in his presidential speech at the AGM portrayed the DAP as being a threat to the bumiputera community and Islam, warning that if DAP comes to power it would “belittle” Islam.

"We (Umno) will not let that happen. As our forefathers vowed, over my dead body and over the bodies of all Malays. We will rise and go all out to defend (Islam)!" Najib said.

He warned the party if the "liberal" DAP were to come to power, Malay privileges and institutions, such as Mara, Felda and Felcra, would "go extinct".

Nothing on Inflation, 1MDB

Anwar, who was a former Umno deputy president, also noted that the AGM did not address key issues of cost of living and the 1MDB scandal.

“The rise in prices, inflation, corruption (were not addressed), and we have not received any answers concerning the 1MDB issue.

"All these are substantive issues which have not been addressed in the assembly,” he said.

Mahathir, who is the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairperson, made a surprise appearance at the DAP national convention in Selangor, where he lauded the latter for being a multiracial party.

The former Umno president's presence provoked criticism from Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi, as well as the resignation of a DAP delegate.