KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno-Pas nexus is an attempt to alienate Malays from other races, Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
Claiming that the pact would adversely affect unity, Dr Mahathir, who is also the prime minister, stressed that the Malay interests would be looked after by PH.
“We are also looking after the interest of the Malays, except that we don’t shout about it.
“They (Umno-PAS pact) try to separate the Malays from other races, that is very bad for a multiracial country.
“The interest of the Malays will be looked after by PH. We want to make sure that it is not only equal but fair,” Dr Mahathir told the media after the opening of the first meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Umno and PAS had recently formed an official alliance to rally Malay support against PH.
Several PH leaders have retaliated against the move, claiming that it was an affront to a multiracial society.
Dr Mahathir stressed all races stand to share an equal amount of the country’s wealth.
“Our relationship must be fair and equal, not just equal without fairness.
“So we will look after the interest of the Malays and we have stated that we want equitable share in the wealth of this country.”
However, Dr Mahathir said as Malaysia was a democratic country and Umno and PAS were free to merge as a political pact.
“If they want to unite, then let them do so. They want to get married, then let them get married.
“We are a free country. If a man wants to get married (to a woman), sure it’s fine. (But) he cannot get married to another man.”