Dr Mahathir: Seek all views

(The Star) – Umno should seek views from party members as well as those from Barisan Nasional’s component parties at the grassroots level before proceeding with the idea of a proposed unity government, former prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said.

“We don’t even know the opinion of our own Umno members.

“Are we going to leave out our peers in Barisan to form a 100% bumiputra government? If we go ahead and do that, we are going to have a racial confrontation and that’s not healthy for the country.”

He also said that the idea for unity talks was an important issue that should be made clear to everyone involved.

“We’re not sure if they only want Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan to come together or if it’s only between PAS and Barisan. Since we are not clear about this, how are we to make a decision?” he said after launching Syed Akbar Ali’s new book Things in Common yesterday.

Asked for his personal opinion, the former premier said a unity government was not a good idea.

“I think the country doesn’t want a 100% bumiputra government.

“We’ve always had a division of authority with Barisan’s component parties. Why must we abandon them just for the sake of forming a government that spells racism? It (unity government) will only burden the rakyat,” he said.