KUALA LUMPUR: Umno cannot afford to depend on other political parties for its survival and must instead stand firmly on its own feet, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The party deputy president said Umno must continue exploring every possibility and political formula while confronting threats to ensure its own survival.
“We do not hate anyone or regard anyone as an enemy. We simply want Umno to rise again. Ultimately, Umno seeks the best possible prospects for its future,” he said.
Mohamad said Umno was aware that it could not depend on other parties for its political future.
“Not Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional. Not PAS. Least of all DAP,” he said at the joint opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri meetings last night.
“Umno must stand on its own feet. It must build its strength through its own methods and strategies. We have no other lifeline except our own strength and resilience.
“Let us embed this in our minds; as long as we depend on other parties, we are still far from recovery,” he said, drawing applause from the floor.
Mohamad, popularly known as Tok Mat, said relying on other political parties was a flawed political formula.
“Umno has its own dignity and honour, which cannot be exchanged for anything. It also cannot be bought with seasonal political cooperation,” he said.
He said the victories in Johor and Negri Sembilan offered several insights, including that Malays wanted strong Malay-Muslim political representation.
“How this should be translated into political form or cooperation is up to Umno. What they want is for the Malay-Muslim political voice to be dominant and influential,” he said.
Mohamad also highlighted that issues relating to Malay interests would continue to be a major force in Malay politics.
“Umno has never closed the door to achieving Malay unity across party and ideological lines.
“Trust me, if anyone comes to us and proposes to cooperate under the name of Malay unity, Umno will welcome it with an open heart,” he said.
However, Tok Mat said any form of cooperation must be clear and principled.
“It must be pursued with sincere intentions. It must not be intermittent or fragmented, and neither should it be seasonal.”
Mohamad said Umno’s position was clear; such cooperation must be based on sincerity.
“If you are sincere, we, too, will be sincere in everything,” he said.
The Umno deputy president added that any cooperation among Malay political parties must be based on the spirit and aspiration of Umno’s “Rumah Bangsa” concept.
“This cooperation must be under Umno’s ‘umbrella’. It must make the party as its foundation, the central pillar and central unifying principle that binds everyone to the same Malay interest.”
He said Umno would always be a “centrist” party, with centrism as one of its main ideologies.
“Umno is a ‘middle ground’ party and will forever follow the middle path.
“We will not lean to the left or right. Our commitment is to balance ideas and policies from the left and right as a moderate nationalist party,” he said.
“Anyone who wishes to work with Umno must accept the party’s moderation and centrist approach. You cannot impose your conservative or radical ideology on Umno,” he said.
