Muhyiddin (File pic courtesy of theSun)
KUALA KRAI, 19 June 2009: Umno wants talks on a unity government to be sped up and asks PAS leaders to forget past conflicts in the interest of the unity of Muslims in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today he wanted the talks to materialise because he feared that if the matter was allowed to be prolonged, it would create disunity among the Muslims.
“We will not impose any conditions and we accept whatever terms set by PAS. As far as I’m concerned, we have to be open,” Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, told reporters after a special meeting with educationists at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Sok here.
The Umno deputy president urged PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to forget about the conflicts between PAS and Umno in the 70s, when both parties cooperated to form the Kelantan government but PAS later pulled out because of internal problems.
“As Muslims we are encouraged to forgive. That was in the past,” he said.
Muhyiddin said PAS leaders who were disagreeable to the idea of a unity government should see that the past conflicts had occurred under the old administration and PAS was now helmed by new leaders with a new direction and objective.
Nik Aziz Nik Aziz, who strongly opposed the unity government proposal, told Nasharuddin Mat Isa on Wednesday to quit as PAS deputy president and Bachok Member of Parliament and join Umno instead if he persisted in discussing the matter with Umno.
Muhyiddin said Nik Aziz’s rejection of the proposal was an internal matter that PAS had to resolve.
To him, the important thing was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s aspiration to make the unity government a success, he said, adding that PAS must make the first move to initiate the effort. Hadi Awang had called for the establishment of a unity government to solve the problems in the country during the opening of the 55th PAS muktamar on 5 June.
“We hope [that the meeting takes place] in the next few days. Anytime, no problem,” Muhyiddin added.
He said the initial meeting should be between PAS and Umno only, before the matter was discussed in a comprehensive manner with the component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat.
On claims by the opposition that Umno was weak and therefore wanted to work with PAS, Muhyiddin said the BN was still strong in the government, and this was evident from the fact that it had more MPs than the opposition in the Dewan Rakyat.
Earlier, in his speech, he said it was Umno’s aspiration to see Muslims in the country be united and of one mind despite having different political ideologies.
He said it saddened him to see the Muslims disunited now, all because of political differences. — Bernama
mukmin says
Muhyiddin oh Muhyiddin, why talk of Muslim unity now? Have you and Umno finally tired of inflicting pain on fellow Muslims like Anwar Ibrahim, on Muslim communities like those in Memali, or people of an entire state like the Kelantanese? Why suddenly you want to pursue the course of sharing power with those that you made enemies of in the past? Is it because you could feel yourself losing your grip on power? And what do you propose to do with your Barisan Nasional partners if PAS consents to be seduced by you into an Islamic state marriage – for surely PAS rejects your ultra-Malay nationalism as sinful? And do you believe Umno will be able to conform to PAS’s strict insistence on praying five times a day, observing Ramadhan diligently, refraining from alcoholic drinks and fornication and rejecting graft and corruption?
When Umno is ready to be good Muslims, then come and invite PAS to talk.
jo says
Conflict in the 70s is irrelevant. But how can PAS forgive Umno for more recent injustice when PAS won Terengganu from Umno. Umno denied the oil royalty money worth RM700m+ per year to the state govt. They were so broke that they had to turn off street lights at midnight.
Then Umno took the money and distributed it directly to the people of Terengganu they say. Until today we have not seen any detailed records of where the money went. I don’t understand why Hadi is so keen on a unity govt, he was the MB then.
My only conclusion is that there’s a segment of PAS’s older folks who are uncomfortable with non-Malays getting some power (i.e. Perak). They’re putting Melayu ahead of Islam – so much for their jihad.
Tommy says
Why the hurry to complete the talks? They know they will be kicked out come GE13 so they have to quickly reinforce their stand. So when the unity thing is successful then they will still remain in power come GE13 with a bigger majority as some ‘frogs’ will jump over to BN. The worst thing that can happen is that then they get kicked out by the opposition from the unity thing.
So tread carefully. It is best not to proceed with the talk.s After GE13 then we will see what happens.
zaman says
Muhyiddin said that Umno will accept whatever terms set by PAS. If I am not mistaken, Haji Hadi had stated that the government had to rectify the MACC, SPR and judiciary before talks of unity can take place. Can Muhyiddin assure this will be done?
kip says
Isn’t this race discrimination? Are the other races really that transparent to Umno? Talk about 1Malaysia! It is hoodwinking the public again. Umno just want to cause more splits among the PR parties.
Wonder how would they feel if one of the BN components were to have a unity discussion with PR or join PR? Is this how Mr Deputy PM wants it to be?
Stop politicking and get down to work!
Isa Ben Yusof says
The Unity Government could become a reality after we rid the Police Force of its corrupted and arrogant thieves of the people, redeem the judiciary by ridding the country of those who sit on the pedestals of justice now, wipe out ISA and all the draconian acts which help BN to grip on to power so that it can continue to pillage, loot and rob the people of their right to share in the wealth of the country.
This is dreaming of course because you can never ever change the arrogant mentality of BN in every sector of service.
Many of the advocates of Malay unity and government sharing power must have just got up from their 100 years long sleep like Rip Wan Winkle.