Latest news with #MalayUnity
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Why fear Dr M's call for Malay unity, asks Indian PN component
MIPP president SP Punithan said Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal is not aimed at dividing the races in the country. PETALING JAYA : An Indian-based Perikatan Nasional component party is in favour of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposed 'big umbrella' to rally the Malays, saying it is a foundation of stability and will not divide races in the country. Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) president SP Punithan said the proposal is not a rejection of diversity or democracy, but acknowledges the political fragmentation of 'two of Malaysia's three major racial communities'. 'Why fear unity? Unity is not a threat. It is the foundation of political stability. 'Such fragmentation serves neither the nation nor the communities themselves. It breeds instability, unpredictability, and weak representation,' he said in a statement today. Punithan said Malaysia was forged through consensus and mutual understanding and not bloodshed and war. 'Its enduring strength resides in its unique fabric of unity, with Malays forming the majority. 'For any multiracial nation to achieve peace and prosperity, unity within its majority community is essential,' he said. On Wednesday, Mahathir said he will invite Umno members to join his new Malay unity alliance in an effort to 'restore Malay power' in the government. He said the alliance, which includes PAS and Bersatu, aims to save the community from what he called its political and economic decline. Punithan said MIPP's responsibility was to unite Malaysian Indians under a single political platform and not to oppose others. 'MIPP's mission is not about division. It is about forging a stronger Malaysia through a stronger and united Indian voice,' he said. He also said political stability 'cannot arise from perpetual horse-trading or shifting alliances driven solely by power struggles'. 'It must emerge from clear mandates, trusted leadership and the coherent representation of each community within a balanced coalition,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
21 hours ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
PN trying to portray itself as Malay unifier, says PKR man
Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari said Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal for Malay-based parties to come under a single, broad coalition is a 'desperate and provocative move'. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : PKR's Taufiq Johari today accused Perikatan Nasional (PN) of attempting to portray itself as a unifier of the Malay community, following a PAS leader's defence of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's new alliance for 'restoring Malay power' in the government. In a statement, he said the former prime minister and PAS, a PN component, had 'divided the community many times before in the past'. He said Mahathir had quit Umno to form Bersatu and then Pejuang – all three of them Malay-based parties. PAS, meanwhile, had broken up Muafakat Nasional, an alliance between the Islamic party and Umno, the country's two largest Malay-Muslim parties, he said. 'Now PAS is the latest to jump on Mahathir's false assertion that a new alliance is needed to restore Malay unity. 'Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man must know that Mahathir's proposal for all Malay-based parties to come under a single, broad coalition is a desperate and provocative move,' he said. Tuan Ibrahim, the PAS deputy president, said last night that Mahathir's new platform was key to uniting the Malays. He also said that the proliferation of political parties was one of the main reasons behind disunity within the community. He said the democratic system had allowed the formation of many political parties and that a grand alliance involving intellectuals, corporate figures, politicians, and religious scholars was needed to unite the Malays. He also said that Mahathir's platform was different from PN, which was a coalition of political parties. On Wednesday, Mahathir announced a new loose coalition which would include PAS and Bersatu, to rally the Malays in an effort to save the community from what he described as political and economic decline. The event was attended by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, and Tuan Ibrahim. Taufiq, the Sungai Petani MP, labelled it a 'gathering of disgruntled leaders' whom he said were trying to distract the public with a false narrative. 'I urge the Malays of today to look to the future, and not be tricked by these deceitful and irresponsible claims,' he said. Separately, Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said while Mahathir's new initiative was targeted at the Malays, it had implications for every ethnic group in Malaysia. 'Perhaps it is time for non-Malay communities to consider their own umbrella coalition – a political force to defend their rapidly eroding rights in an increasingly fragmented and directionless Malaysia,' he said in a Facebook post.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Dr M's new Malay platform key to uniting divided community, says Tuan Ibrahim
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said all Malay-based parties must come under a single, broad coalition as a platform to safeguard the community's future. PETALING JAYA : PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has defended Dr Mahathir Mohamad's new platform to unite the Malays, saying the proliferation of political parties is one of the main reasons behind disunity within the community. He said the democratic system had allowed the formation of many political parties and, therefore, a grand alliance involving intellectuals, corporate figures, politicians and religious scholars was needed to unite the Malays. 'All segments must support this new platform. The proliferation of Malay-dominated parties is seen as a cause of division, and this is difficult to control because democracy allows it.' He said all Malay-based parties must come under a single, broad coalition as a platform to safeguard the community's future. When asked if this movement was a better platform to unite Malays compared to Perikatan Nasional (PN), he responded: 'PN is a coalition of political parties. It's different from this new platform.' The grouping announced by the former prime minister yesterday goes beyond existing political parties, he added. Earlier today, Kedah Umno information chief Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said Mahathir's new platform is nothing more than part of a repeated cycle of failed political experiments. He said Malay politics cannot be built on nostalgic rhetoric and repeated attempts to form new, loosely structured coalitions without a clear struggle or foundation. Besides Tuan Ibrahim, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin were also present at Mahathir's announcement for the new grouping yesterday. Mahathir said the formation of the new Malay alliance is aimed at 'restoring Malay power' in government. He said the coalition, which includes PAS and Bersatu, is not a formal political party for now but serves as an umbrella platform to protect the political and economic future of the Malay community. He also invited individual Umno members to join the coalition — but not the party as a whole. This marks Mahathir's latest effort to unite the Malays through a political platform, following previous initiatives such as Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) and Pejuang, ahead of the 15th general election (GE15). However, all candidates linked to GTA were defeated in GE15, including Mahathir himself, who lost his deposit and failed to retain his Langkawi seat. GTA, launched in 2022, was effectively dissolved a year later when Mahathir, its chairman, admitted the movement was not effective at gaining voter support.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Akmal rejects Mahathir's ‘Malay unity' offer
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has questioned the motive behind former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for Malay unity. PETALING JAYA : Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has turned down former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's invitation to join his new Malay unity alliance, claiming that Umno has not forgotten Mahathir's alleged attempt to undermine the party. Akmal noted that Mahathir, who is now calling for Malay unity, had once allegedly tried to ban Umno while in power. 'Thank you. We appreciate the offer. But we remember what happened,' Akmal said in a Facebook post. 'Now that he no longer holds office, his tune has changed,' Akmal said. He also questioned the motives behind the call for unity, warning that it should not be used to serve personal interests. 'If we're serious about uniting the Malays, it must come from sincere intentions rooted in love for our religion and race — not from a desire for personal gain,' he added. Yesterday, Mahathir said he will invite Umno members to join his new Malay unity alliance in an effort to 'restore Malay power' in the government. He stressed, however, that he was not inviting Umno as a party to join the alliance. The group, which includes PAS and Bersatu, is not a political party but a coalition aimed at protecting the political and economic future of the Malays, he said. Last August, Mahathir, a former Umno president, denied an allegation by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that he (Mahathir) tried to have the party banned.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘They need a fighter': Dr Mahathir announces ‘big umbrella' committee to unite Malays
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reportedly announced the formation of an informal Malay committee, describing it as a 'big umbrella' to unify the Malay community. According to a report in Malaysiakini, Mahathir met with other political leaders in Putrajaya — including PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, and PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man — before making the announcement. 'They (Malays) need fighters to champion their cause. Right now, they don't have a dedicated fighter,' he was quoted as saying 'We're not concerned with other problems, we just want to focus on one struggle — the struggle to save the Malays,' he reportedly added. According to the report, Mahathir said that the Malays' problems could only be solved if Malays once again led the government. He reportedly added that the movement was open to all Malays, including Umno members, provided they supported the same cause.
