Tok Mat: For once-mighty Umno, unity govt is a chance at salvation
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that joining the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a chance for the party to regain a foothold in the country’s political landscape.
Addressing the more than 3,000 delegates of the Umno general assembly 2023 at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here today, Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, urged party members to go all out in defending the current administration.
“It is very important for Umno to defend this unity government because we are the ‘formula’ that embodies the answer to the country’s political confusion at this time.
“Imagine the implications for Umno, if we waste this opportunity, if we do not perform, if we become a problem for the unity government.
“If we fail to make this government a success, who will believe in Umno after this?” he said.
Further commenting on Barisan Nasional (BN) working with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the new ruling coalition, Tok Mat said that Umno was undertaking an “unprecedented” political cooperation for the sake of the party’s survival.
He also labelled the new alignment between BN and PH as a “political experiment” that is vital for the party’s trajectory in the future.
“Umno and BN are going through a very important ‘political experiment’.
“Call it what you will: A new line-up. A new coalition. A new understanding. Clearly, it is a ‘business as unusual’ policy,” he added.
Responding to previous claims that Umno was labelled as a conservative party, he said that the party must shed its old narrow-minded politics and open itself to new progressive and moderate policies.
However, he also stressed that Umno is still a nationalist party as the foundation of the organisation was built to protect the Malays and Islam in the country.
“We are a nationalist party. Defending the Malays and Islam is our struggle. Because of that, we have been called ‘asabiyah’ for decades, by certain parties. We are labelled a fanatical tribal and racist party.
“Now, just because our political direction is different, we are slandered for turning our backs on the Malays and Islam,” he said.
Earlier today, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that he has reminded party members to accept that Umno is no longer the dominant political force it once was in Malaysia.
Ahmad Zahid said that the party must be prepared to do the groundwork and capitalise on every opportunity that presents itself during the state elections.
