Get real about getting non-Malay support, Zaid tells Muhyiddin

By MT Webmaster Last updated Mar 10, 2024

Zaid Ibrahim advises Muhyiddin Yassin and his PN comrades to emulate Anwar Ibrahim’s example of prioritising leadership for all races.

(FMT) – Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has urged Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to “get real” with his coalition’s efforts to garner support from non-Malays.

Zaid said Muhyiddin and his comrades in PN should follow Anwar Ibrahim’s example by adopting a multiracial stance.

“Could you not say I am a Malay first? Tell Malaysians you are the ‘daddy’ for all races,” he said in a posting on X today.

Zaid’s remarks come after Muhyiddin said yesterday PN must find ways to win the support of non-Malay voters.

The Bersatu president said PN needs to adopt a fresh approach in engaging with the non-Malays and, if successful, their support for the coalition could potentially increase by 5% to 10%.

Zaid also said Muhyiddin should advise Gerakan, a PN component party, to “sound more like DAP” by adopting principles of meritocracy, rule of law, and reforms to gain power

Meanwhile, he said, PAS leaders should be told to recognise that non-Muslims are their allies.

“PAS, therefore, needs to be sensitive to worldly matters, as the non-Malays are concerned with economy, education and business,” he said.

“If PAS continues its single-minded focus on religious matters, it won’t foster economic growth for Malays or help Bersatu win federal elections.”

Zaid also said Bersatu leaders should “close ranks” and reconcile with Umno, as the two parties share a common ideology.

“After all, there is no reason for Bersatu to continue fighting Umno. You were all made from the same stuff, and your differences are purely tactical,” he said, adding that Muhyiddin should set aside his dream of becoming the prime minister again.

Bersatu, a splinter party from Umno, was formed by Muhyiddin and several former Umno leaders, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz Mahathir. Muhyiddin and Mukhriz were both sacked from Umno, whereas Mahathir chose to quit the party.