Up to Dr M to make ‘Malay unity’ call to Umno, says Anwar

(FMT) – Anwar Ibrahim today refused to comment on Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent call urging Malays including those from Umno to join PPBM, saying he would like to hear from the prime minister himself.

The PKR president, who is Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) choice as the next prime minister, said it was Mahathir’s prerogative as PPBM chairman to make the call, but that the issue could be addressed when top leaders from the ruling coalition meet.

“It’s a decision by Bersatu (PPBM),” he told reporters at Parliament today.

“We haven’t even heard from him… I think we should give him that opportunity.”

On Friday, Mahathir invited Malay-based parties to unite under PPBM, saying the split among Malays had weakened their political power.

“If we are split, we become weak, united we stand, divided we fall. But we find that there are people forming new parties.

“Now we have become six, soon there will be 10, then 100. There are 30 people in one party. How to win?” Mahathir said at a Hari Raya event in Johor.

Mahathir also said his call would not affect PPBM’s ties with its partners in PH.

“That is their problem. We have no connection with other parties. Although (they are) in PH, they too get new members.”