Muda to be roped into unity govt secretariat, says PM

KUALA SELANGOR: The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) will be invited to be part of the committees formed under the secretariat of the unity government, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that other parties that supported the unity government will be welcomed to join the committees which were formed during the first secretariat meeting of the unity government.

“We have explained this. The meeting was actually for the founding parties of the unity government.

“However, other parties would also be roped into the secretariat because they also support this unity government,” he told reporters after attending Universiti Selangor’s (Unisel) Kursi Siddiq Fadzil Distinguished Lecture at its Bestari Jaya campus here yesterday.

The invite came after the Muda leadership expressed its disappointment that the party was left in the dark about the secretariat meeting at Menara Dato Onn on Tuesday, which was attended by leaders of parties that formed the unity government.

Muda secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi, when contacted, said he hoped there will be better communication regarding future unity government secretariat meetings.

“If they think we are part of the secretariat, why can’t they just inform us about events that are happening?

“We were kept in the dark. If we can improve our communications, then no problem.

“The problem is that we don’t know what’s happening,” added Amir.

Amir said that regardless of the size of a political party, every party in the unity government has its role to play.

During the event, the Prime Minister announced that the government will be allocating RM1mil in financial contribution to Unisel’s Kursi Siddiq Fadzil chair.

The chair, launched in February last year, alongside the Siddiq Fadzil Institute of Thought and Leadership, encourages research to commemorate the works of the late Prof Datuk Siddiq Fadzil.

Siddiq, who passed away in August 2021, is the father of Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. His works centred around Islam, plurality and nation-building.

In his speech, Anwar expressed hope for the youths to rise up stronger under Malaysia Madani and reject a rigid mindset.

He said such changes, however, need to be implemented based on the principles of harmony, peace and universal humanity, taking into account the plurality of Malaysian society.

“The children of the Malays, Chinese, Indians and Iban as well as the other races must work together to defend justice and rise as a new force of Malaysia Madani.

“This is my challenge. I have to understand the mindset that can drive change.

‘Only by ensuring that people stay united through education, through that it will lead to unity,” added Anwar.