Zahid questions true motive behind Sekretariat Orang Melayu
The Bagan Datuk member of parliament said that efforts to bring together Malay political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the sake of the community have long been carried out by Umno since its founding on May 11, 1946.
Zahid, who is also the Umno Bagan Datuk division chief, questioned the movement led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, particularly whether it harboured a hidden agenda to regain political influence.
"I would like to wish all the best to the chairman of the Sekretariat Orang Melayu and pray that he succeeds in uniting Malay parties and NGOs for the good of the ummah (community).
"However, it must be remembered that Umno was established on May 11, 1946, to unite Malay NGOs at the time, and the principle of Malay unity has remained a core value of Umno to this day, as enshrined in the party's constitution," he told reporters after launching the Umno Bagan Datuk Division Delegates Meeting at the Umno Complex here today.
Zahid also said that true unity must stem from a unity of thought, intellect and conscience, not from personal interests or hidden political motives.
"When someone finds that none of their party's candidates won in the last election, and all even lost their deposits, only then do they supposedly seek to unite the Malays.
"And yet, this is the very person who once divided the Malays," he said.
Earlier in his speech, the deputy prime minister described the formation of the secretariat as politically motivated, driven by the failure of a former Prime Minister who had lost public support.
"Now there's an effort to unite the Malays under one secretariat. What is the real purpose? It's all political.
"That individual rose to power under Umno, became Umno president and Prime Minister for decades, and saw himself as a statesman.
"Then he formed a new party, supported by splinter parties from Umno, and returned as Prime Minister.
"But after being ousted by his party, he formed yet another party and contested in the same constituency he once represented and ultimately lost his deposit.
"From there came the attempt to establish a secretariat to compensate for his political shortcomings," he said.
Zahid stressed that Umno would not support any form of secretariat that pretends to unify the Malays but is rooted in the personal political ambitions of an individual.
"We remain with Umno and are committed to the Madani unity government we have established," he said.
Dr Mahathir previously reported that as saying that the e stablishment of the Sekretariat Orang Melayu was not politically driven, but rather intended as a broad platform to restore Malay political power and address the current challenges facing the community.
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