Akmal urges cooperation with PAS

He says he is confident the Malays will unite behind Umno and PAS if the two parties decide to work together.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh today urged the party’s grassroots to act decisively against what he described as repeated disrespect towards Malay institutions, Islam, and the monarchy.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh today called for the unity of the Malay community, saying that the two largest Malay parties, Umno and PAS, must take the lead in fostering solidarity.

Speaking at a special convention organised by Umno Youth to determine whether the party should continue its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the unity government, Akmal urged the party’s grassroots to act decisively against what he described as repeated disrespect towards Malay institutions, Islam, and the monarchy.

“The time has come for the unity of the Malay people,” said Akmal to raucous applause.

“This is not about me or my political career – it is about our religion and our dignity. If Umno and PAS can come together, I am confident the Malays will unite behind us.

“The Malays are known for their patience, and our religion teaches us to be patient. But I want to tell those on the other side that patience has its limits.”

The convention was prompted by Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin’s refusal to apologise for a social media post stating that the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s rejection of former prime minister Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest was a cause for celebration.

Yeo had posted on Facebook, “another reason to celebrate this year end”, following the High Court’s dismissal of Najib’s judicial review application to compel the government to allow him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest.

The judicial review was filed last year seeking to compel the government to execute a royal addendum, or supplementary decree, to place him under house arrest.

In its decision, the court declared the former king’s addendum order invalid as it had not been deliberated at the Jan 29, 2024 Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting.

Akmal’s call for cooperation with PAS comes in the wake of PAS election director Sanusi Nor’s statement that Muafakat Nasional (MN) — the electoral pact PAS and Umno forged in 2019 — should be revived as a platform for unity ahead of the next general election.

Sanusi last week said ties between PAS and Umno were vital for political stability, especially at the grassroots level.

His call echoed those of other PAS leaders who had repeatedly brought up the idea of reviving the MN alliance. - FMT