No 'grand collaboration' as Umno still works with DAP - Muhyiddin

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said it would not be easy for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to form a large coalition or “grand collaboration” to unite all Malay and Islamic parties in Malaysia, as long as the party continues its political cooperation with DAP.

“We cannot accept it as long as Umno cooperates with DAP; we will not agree.

“Is Zahid now saying that he wants to part ways with Pakatan Harapan?

“This needs to be answered before any further discussions are held,” the former prime minister told reporters at a dinner with Tamil-language media practitioners in Brickfields last night.

Last week, Zahid (above, right) had tabled a motion for the formation of a “grand collaboration” at the Umno general assembly.

However, Zahid stressed that the proposal was subject to one main condition - it must not disrupt or undermine the coalition government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Previous meetings

Asked whether Umno had ever met PAS or Bersatu to discuss the proposal, Zahid said such meetings had taken place previously.

“Yes, there were meetings not long ago,” he said briefly.

However, the former Perikatan Nasional chief denied that Bersatu had ever given a mandate to any leader to negotiate with Umno.

Elaborating further, Muhyiddin said the opposition coalition had yet to discuss the issue of joining any new alliance.

“Within PN, we have not discussed which group to align with. We believe that for the future, matters related to external cooperation must be agreed collectively.

“So far, there has been nothing of that sort,” he added.

Pressed about the possibility of meeting Zahid to discuss the matter, Muhyiddin said he was prepared for it but stressed the need for the true intention behind the proposal to be clarified.

“I am still open to this proposal. However, Zahid must first explain the true intention behind the formation of this cooperation.

“A meeting can be held at any time, but I want to know what he really means by the proposal,” he said.

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