MCA should not be childish – Umno veep

INTERVIEW | MCA should not be childish in its response to Umno-PAS cooperation, said Khaled Nordin.

The Umno vice-president said MCA needs to be understanding because they are all now in the same bloc - the opposition.

Khalid's comment came in the wake of recent attacks mounted by MCA leaders against Umno for being friendly with the Islamist party.

He said Umno and PAS only came to agree on certain matters as both share the same aim of taking the Pakatan Harapan government to task.

"Every party must have a strategy. Now, we are the opposition and we want to be a strong one. The strategy to achieve this is by having an understanding with all existing opposition parties.

"We are in the same bloc with PAS. Why should we quarrel with each other? We have a common goal, a common enemy, which is the Harapan government. Do not misinterpret our cooperation with PAS because we want to form a new government," Khaled told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview today.

The former Johor menteri besar said the party's relationship with PAS would not change its ideology and approach.

He stressed that although Umno's ideology is Malay-centric, they would continue to practice tolerance and moderation.

"Umno believes that we can't bring benefits to the Malays if we do not bring benefits to other racial groups in this country.

"How can you sit in an opposition bench and when a certain act is tabled (in Parliament), we can't cooperate? So the MCA must be understanding... Don't be childish," he added.

'Cooperation only based on loose understanding'

Since the May 9 general polls, BN parties, particularly Umno, were seen working towards having a closer ties with PAS, notably during the Sungai Kandis, Seri Setia and Balakong by-elections.

However, despite having its campaign supported by PAS in Balakong by-election last month, MCA leaders had been hostile about the rumoured idea of a formal coalition between their ally and the Islamist party.

In its most recent attack, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai (photo) yesterday mooted that they could kick Umno out of BN if it moves towards theocratic politics. 

To this, Khaled said: "Sometimes, it doesn't warrant any reply to such a statement. That's all."

He said Umno-PAS cooperation was only based on a loose understanding between the parties.

It was not like the parties were going to form a new coalition, he added.

"Bertunang pun tidak (we are not even engaged). We are only sitting side by side respecting each other (as fellow opposition parties)," Khaled quipped, using the term "tunang" used by critics to refer to Umno-PAS close relationship.

He said there was nothing concrete in the two parties' understanding, and it does not mean that they would agree on everything.

Speaking about his absence at the opening ceremony of PAS' muktamar last weekend, which had created a perception that he was against Umno's cooperation with PAS, Khaled said no Umno member was obliged to go for the event.

"Is it an obligation for me to go for the muktamar? Whoever was free could go. I did not want to go because there was no formal agreement where Umno decided that we must attend it.

"So why must I go?" - Mkini