Muhyiddin denies claims of Bersatu giving mandate for Umno unity talks

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has denied that his party ever gave a mandate to any leader to negotiate with Umno on a purported "grand collaboration" of Malay-Muslim parties, contradicting Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claims.

In a statement today, Muhyiddin said Zahid's speech at the recently concluded Umno general assembly regarding discussions with Bersatu leadership to work towards Malay unity had raised questions about his party's position on the matter.

"I wish to clarify that Bersatu has never formally given a mandate to any party leader to negotiate with Umno. This matter has also never been discussed in the Bersatu supreme council meetings.

"I wish to emphasise that any cross-party discussions involving any form of cooperation between Bersatu and Umno must be held through official party channels with the attendance of the highest leadership of both parties.

“Discussions must be held transparently whilst taking into account all factors, including the views of our partner parties in Perikatan Nasional and Umno's position in the unity government," he said.

Muhyiddin said he, however, would remain open to the proposal and consider it after getting more information.

"Bersatu will consider the proposal put forward by the Umno president after obtaining clearer input on it," he said.

Zahid proposed a motion to form the said grand pact in his winding-up speech yesterday.

However, he stressed that the proposed grand coalition would be subject to one key condition: that it must not disrupt or undermine the coalition government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

"The prime minister has nothing to worry about. I have no agenda to stab anyone in the back or to undermine the unity government. This is solely intended to translate Umno’s sincerity in embracing all Malay-Islamic parties under one roof for the interests and agenda of the Malays and Islam,” Zahid said.

The deputy prime minister then asked Umno delegates present whether they accepted or rejected the motion to form the grand collaboration.

The request was met with unanimous support as delegates shouted "agree" three times.

When asked whether Umno had met with PAS and Bersatu to discuss the cooperation, Zahid said it had happened before.

"Yes, there was a meeting not too long ago," he said briefly.

He said the loose cooperation is also open to Malay and Islamic NGOs.

Khaled, ex-Johor MB’s appointments

In a related development, Malaysia Gazette reported that Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin was appointed as chairperson of Umno's Rumah Bangsa Unification Committee, which was unanimously agreed upon by the majority of delegates at the AGM.

The news portal also reported Zahid announcing former Johor menteri besar, Abdul Ghani Othman, as chairperson of the party's musyawarah council (national consultative council).

The AGM delegates also unanimously agreed to appoint Zahid himself to chair the ummah consultative council, following a previous cabinet decision that approved its establishment, the news report said.

"Previously, when I was deputy prime minister, I established the Islamic consultative council, which united various NGOs and political parties to discuss Islamic agendas.

"The cabinet has approved the ummah consultative council with me as its chairperson to establish 11 clusters.

"It will gather strategic thinkers, ulama, academics, leaders, NGOs, corporate figures, government representatives, as well as cross-party political figures to discuss important issues related to the Muslim ummah in Malaysia.

"I seek the delegates' approval for me to be chairperson as the cabinet has approved it, but next month we will proceed to launch this ummah consultative council," Zahid reportedly said.

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