Tok Mat: Umno not 'offering its neck' to DAP, just in the same govt

UMNO AGM | Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has reaffirmed that although the party is in the cabinet alongside DAP, the arrangement was made based on an agreement - and not simply a matter of “offering its neck”.

“We are in this government with an agreement - we’re not just sticking our necks out. There are red lines we have set, which is why I am reminding everyone again, in case many have forgotten.

“For example, I mentioned this in my opening speeches at the Youth, Women, and Puteri assemblies - that although we are in the same cabinet, do not take it lightly,” Mohamad Hasan told reporters at the World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, today.

He was responding to calls from PAS leaders for Umno to leave DAP to realise the “Rumah Bangsa” (big tent for the Malays) agenda proposed by Umno.

Earlier today, PAS assistant secretary-general Syahir Sulaiman was reported as suggesting that Umno should take the first step by leaving DAP to achieve the agenda of Muslim unity through the “Rumah Bangsa”.

The Bachok MP claimed that no Malays could accept DAP’s agenda, and noted that the party is now working with Umno through the unity government.

Mohamad, who is popularly known as Tok Mat, however, denied that Umno was collaborating with DAP.

Elaborating, he said Umno has never been “together” with DAP, but instead entered into an agreement to administer the country after Perikatan Nasional refused to form a government with Pakatan Harapan.

“We were never together with DAP. We made an agreement to govern the country. Umno or BN agreed because we wanted to save the country, as the country had been without a government for more than five days after a general election.

“After the 15th general election, Malaysia had no party that could form a government, and two days after the election, I had stated that Harapan and PN should form the government. But they couldn’t form it.

“When they couldn’t form a government, (because) PN refused, so we were summoned (by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong).

“Our priority then was the well-being of the country, so that the country could be governed. A country without a government is not good, and in the end, the people will bear the consequences,” said the foreign minister.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the formation of a “Rumah Bangsa” unity committee to accept the return or re-entry of any party, whether individually or en bloc.

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