Umno leaders dismiss claim cooperation with PAS won’t last

Umno leaders have dismissed DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s claim that the Malay unity narrative promoted by Umno and PAS will not last.

Umno Supreme Council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed said political calculations were constantly changing according to voter sentiment and trends, pointing to a global shift towards identity and religious politics.

“As political trends shift towards identity and religious politics, Pakatan Harapan and DAP will face difficulties expanding their support among voters of other races,” he said.

“For now, the consolidation of Malay voters through cooperation between Umno and PAS will remain a key pillar of political stability.”

He added that DAP had worked with PAS for an extended period while in opposition, including through alliances such as Pakatan Rakyat.

“Political calculations are constantly changing with the times,” he said.

On Sunday, Loke said the consolidation of Malay voters around the Umno-PAS unity narrative could not last, and urged DAP to expand its support beyond its traditional strongholds ahead of the next general election.

Another Umno Supreme Council member, Razlan Rafii, said the idea that the majority community should form the core of the country’s leadership had long been entrenched among Malaysians.

He said this aligned with a global shift towards parties that champion the interests of indigenous communities, although it did not mean sidelining other races.

“DAP’s radical actions have often caused concern among the majority community,” he said, claiming that DAP lost support among Chinese voters because it failed to address basic economic concerns while in government.

He cited issues such as taxes, fuel prices and utility bills, saying many Chinese business owners felt their concerns were not adequately addressed.

“It was as if the party turned a deaf ear to the concerns of business owners, most of whom are Chinese,” he said.

“Umno and PAS share the fundamental goal of ensuring that the country can be governed without resorting to the racial issues that DAP often uses.”

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