KUALA LUMPUR: The two long-time political nemesis, Umno and Pas, today created history by signing a political cooperation charter - the National Consensus Charter.
The move officially marks the start of the political collaboration between the two largest Malay/Muslim-based parties in the country.
In a statement signed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, the charter listed out five core issues in its content.
The basis of the charter, according to the statement, was to bring about the unification of the Ummah (community) in harmony with multiracial Malaysia.
The five core issues are:
* To uplift and protect the Federal Constitution that guarantees the formation of the country, Islam as the official religion of the federation, preserve the special rights of Malays and Bumiputeras as well the rights of other races, safeguard Bahasa Melayu as the national language and guarantee the protection of Malaysia’s multiracial society;
* To strengthen national cooperation through discussions that involves all religions, races and culture for the sake of the country;
* To empower the Islamic, Malay and Bumiputera agenda according to the Federal Constitution;
* To form a cooperation by spreading the Islamic and Malay narrative without rejecting the rights of other religions, races and cultures as the crux of political stability, racial harmony and the country’s prosperity; and
* To collectively work on a new offer for the country to enhance good governance, inclusive development policy and a distribution that will fertilise social justice regardless of one’s skin colour and religion.
The charter which was signed at Umno headquarters at Putra World Trade Centre saw more than 10,000 Pas and Umno members attending the event, exceeding the organiser’s expected attendance figure.