KUALA LUMPUR – “It’s time to get real,” says former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin on garnering non-Malay support.
In a post on X this morning, Zaid went on to say that Malay political parties set themselves impossible tasks when questioned about why they failed.
“He (Muhyiddin) asked the question: how do we get more support from non-Malays?
“It’s pretty simple: follow the example of (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim. Could you not say ‘I am a Malay first’?”
“Tell Malaysians you are the daddy for all races,” he said.
Zahid said Muhyiddin should tell coalition party Gerakan to sound more like DAP and speak of reforms, the rule of law, and meritocracy.
“Say all these things until you achieve power. It’s okay for you not to do these things after your election.
“Tell them reforms will come during your second term. Malaysians forget easily,” he added.
“Tell PAS leaders who your comrades are: the non-Muslims.
“PAS, therefore, need to be sensitive to worldly matters, as the non-Malays are concerned with the economy, education, and business,” he added.
Zaid also said that if PAS continues with “its mission to ensure Muslims go to heaven,” it will never be able to develop a strong economy for the Malays.
“It won’t be able to help Bersatu become the federal government as well”, he added.
Zaid said PAS leaders should work with the prime minister to develop Malay-majority states – and Bersatu leaders, on the other hand, should close ranks with Umno and try to be together again.
“Muhyiddin should forget about being prime minister again.
“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.
“Find ways to share power, as you have always done,” he added.
In his closing speech at the PN representatives convention yesterday, Muhyiddin said a 5 to 10% shift in support for the PN from non-Malay voters would help the opposition coalition win big at the 16th general election.
He said this while urging PN members to redouble efforts to win over the community, which in the 15th general election had shunned its parties comprising Bersatu, PAS, and Gerakan. – March 10, 2024