Mat Taib: My struggles in the Opposition were in vain

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said that he decided to return to Umno after realising that his struggles in the Opposition were in vain.

The former Umno vice-president left the party in 2013 to join PAS, and he later left PAS to join PKR in 2015.

"I made this decision to return to Umno five years after leaving this party, and after seeing the situation over there, I feel that my struggle was in vain," Muhammad told a media conference chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Also at the media conference were most of the Umno supreme council members.

Muhammad, who was also Selangor mentri besar, said he felt disheartened that the Malay agenda was never discussed during the Opposition parties' meetings that he attended.

"So I felt there was no other road but through Umno which will fight for Malay interests, and that's my interest, to fight to develop the Malays."

Muhammad thanked Najib for his willingness to accept him in Umno and promised to help Umno leaders in Selangor to champion the interests of the Malays.

Najib, who was later asked whether Muhammad would be given any special position in the party, said that what was important was for Muhammad to rejoin out of his own sincerity.

"We will discuss other matters later," said the Prime Minister.