Revive discussion for sake of country, Umno and PAS urged

(The Star) – Umno Youth has called on both Umno and PAS to revive a proposal made years ago to hold a muzakarah (discussion) to discuss issues of national interest.

Its chief Khairy Jamaluddin said this was an opportune time for the two largest parties in the country to sit together, especially now that both had concluded their respective election.

“The proposed muzakarah is not just for the sake of the Malays and the solidarity of the ummah, but also for national agenda,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“Both parties must set aside their political differences and sit together to discuss the future of the country,” he added.

His views was echoed by Umno Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who said a solidarity government could be worked out by Umno and PAS through talks conducted with sincerity and tolerance.

He said such a government could help revive the economy.

Mukhriz added that if Umno and PAS were to work together to establish a solidarity government, the question of the non-Malays being marginalised would not happen.

“Even before independence, we have been practising the approach of tolerance in terms of all citizens.

“As such, we should not think the merging of Malay politics will be detrimental to the other races,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan state assembly Opposition Leader Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad said PAS candidates from the state were almost wiped out in the election because of the hardline and uncompromising stance of spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He said the victories of those seen as the ulama faction in PAS, could pave a way towards the prospects of a national reconciliation process.