A BERSATU leader has revealed that currently there are no plans to formally work with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad during the upcoming state elections.
According to Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris, the party leaders’ cooperation with the former prime minister was limited to the latter’s “Malay Proclamation” at the moment.
“We’re supporting from ‘outside’, we support the agenda of uniting the Malays. From what I understand, that’s the ‘cooperation’ that Bersatu, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Mahathir share at this moment,” he was quoted as saying to FMT.
“Of course, the people would want to see Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin working together again, given how they fought to the point of Mahathir resigning as prime minister in 2020.
“So, they’ve put aside all past crises just to unite the Malays. So, we’ll work on that first.”
The former Langkawi MP was reported as saying yesterday that he is open to working alongside Muhyiddin if they can reach an agreement on mutual goals, suggesting a possible reunion between the two leaders following their prior partnership under Dr Mahathir’s 2018 Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Razali, who is among the three Bersatu leaders who had signed the “Malay Proclamation” along with deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Supreme Council member Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, noted that it was not yet the right moment for the two ex-prime ministers to reconcile, but “that day will come.”
Meanwhile, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal applauded Dr Mahathir’s desire to work with Muhyiddin again, claiming that it would be for the “greater good” of Malaysia.
The Machang MP noted that such partnership would extend beyond elections because the two leaders were aware of the Malay community’s issues.
“If we can muster support from a respected and esteemed statesman like Mahathir, for me as Bersatu Youth chief, it would be most welcome,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.
“It can work because Mahathir is not in any political party currently. He has served the country well, and built Bersatu with Muhyiddin. I am optimistic that such cooperation will work.
On May 4, Faizal reportedly brushed off the perception that Bersatu is divided following its involvement of its MPs in the “Malay Proclamation”.
Faizal, who is a former Tambun MP, emphasised that the proclamation only talks about the problems, struggles and future of the Malays in the country.
He also stressed that every Malay has the right to participate when it comes to talking about their race without touching on other races. – June 2, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Razali Idris
