PLANS to establish a Malay Secretariat as an umbrella body to unite the Malays are facing criticism from top UMNO leaders, including party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi, thus cementing the existing divisions in the Malay political landscape.
Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the Malay unity agenda should not be used as a political gimmick, adding that while UMNO is not against any parties who are attempting to unite the Malays, the motive for its struggle must be clear and not just for political purposes.
He added that UMNO would not accept any form of secretariat that supposedly aims to unite the Malays on a political basis.
At the same time, Zahid took jibes at former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who backs a Malay Secretariat, whom he said lost his deposit in the 2022 general elections.
Dr Mahathir had reportedly formed the secretariat to unite all parties fighting for the Malays under one big umbrella on June 4.
“I would like to wish the chairperson of the Malay Secretariat all the best, and I pray that he will succeed in uniting Malay parties and Malay non-governmental organisations for the benefit of the Malays.
“Let us unite in what is important in terms of thought, mindset, and conscience, not for any other purpose when the organising party is trying to unite the Malays after not having a winner in the last election, apart from all losing deposits,” he said last week.
Meanwhile, the secretariat idea was dismissed by Puad, who criticised Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Tan Sri Annuar Musa for initiating the so-called “umbrella” initiative.
He considers the secretariat to be laden with political manoeuvring and suggested that Annuar should instead help PAS rectify its political approach rather than forming such a secretariat.
“What’s with Annuar Musa now? Wanting to establish a Malay secretariat? You’re a politician. Too much political scheming. Just stay in PAS. Strengthen your unity within PN first.
“Fix PAS’ way of politicking, which hides behind religion and loves to judge. That’s the reason Malays are divided,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Puad also chided Annuar for what he saw as a failed attempt to unite the Malays with the Muafakat Nasional (MN). He urged Annuar not to add to the confusion among Malays with another ‘secretariat’.
“You already have MN. We know MN wasn’t born from the sweat of your struggle. It wasn’t born from events like the Malays opposing the Malayan Union.
“Don’t confuse the Malays. Big Malay umbrella, Malay Secretariat, Malays under threat. Turns out, you’re the one threatening Malay unity,” he said. — June 15, 2025
Main photo credit: Berita Harian
