PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he is prepared to work with Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if an agreement can be reached on mutual goals for the sake of the Malays.
The former prime minister said it was important to put the interests of the Malays first, and reject those who were involved in corruption and criminal misconduct.
“We want to work together but the end goals must be set out,” he was quoted as saying to the portal called MalaysiaNow.
Dr Mahathir said the Malays had divided themselves into various political factions, which he claimed had weakened their collective strength and hindered efforts to address their concerns.
“We have split into many parties and we have lost power. When we lose power, we cannot correct the circumstances which are detrimental to the Malays,” he was quoted as saying.
Dr Mahathir also said the Malays were no longer behind Umno as they had lost confidence in the party’s struggle for their cause.
He said Umno’s poor performance in last year’s general election, where the once-dominant party won just 26 parliamentary seats, was clear evidence that it was no longer the party of choice for the Malays.
“This is why we need to unite. But who is in favour of unity? Not those who are involved in corruption or who have been sentenced to prison,” he said.
“Malay voters are thinking about the problems they face. They want someone who cares about their plight and can do something to fix their issues.”
