Malay disunity will erode Sabah, Sarawak’s confidence in West Malaysian leaders, says Khaled

 Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin says continued fragmentation of Malay political power risks exposing the community’s weaknesses.

Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said Sabahan and Sarawakian leaders are not merely observing the infighting among the Malays, but also asking if West Malaysians should still be entrusted with leading the country.

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malay disunity can erode the confidence of Sabah and Sarawak in the ability of West Malaysian leaders to govern the country, Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said.

Khaled said the continued fragmentation of Malay political power risks exposing the community’s weaknesses and could cause allies in Sabah and Sarawak to lose respect for the West Malaysian leaders.

“If we cannot manage the Malays properly, how can we convince our friends in Sabah and Sarawak to have confidence in us to lead the nation?” he said in his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly here this evening.

Khaled said that since the formation of Malaysia, peninsular Malays had been entrusted with leading the nation and tasked with developing the country.

He said leaders in East Malaysia were not merely observing the infighting among the Malays, but were also asking if West Malaysians should still be entrusted with leading the country.

Malay unity was, therefore, vital to reassure the governments of Sabah and Sarawak that West Malaysia was politically stable and its leaders should continue to take the lead in governing the country.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan had previously said Sabah and Sarawak were “kingmakers” rather than “safe deposits”, and Umno needed East Malaysia’s support to form the government.

Separately, Khaled said a decision on raising the Puteri Umno membership age limit from 35 to 40 would be made after the 16th general election.

Puteri Umno chief Nurul Amal Fauzi told FMT earlier this week the proposal to raise the age limit was aimed at ensuring leadership continuity and preventing leaders nurtured in the wing from being sidelined once they reach the present age limit of 35. - FMT