KUALA LUMPUR - The three main Malay and Islamic parties in the country, Umno, Pas and Bersatu should merge, said former Umno deputy president Tun Musa Hitam.
The former deputy prime minister further said the three Malay parties would also need to expand their ideology to attract the support from the majority of the people.
"If only these three parties could come together, and at the same time this coalition should give assurances to other races and religions that the concerned groups will be given freedom and protection," he said.
He said this during a talk show titled 'Malay: Building Unification and Nurturing Integrity' moderated by Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, organised by the Johor Malay Children's Association (PAMJ), here today.
Musa said the three parties need to be strong as they face PKR and DAP which are made up of various races and attract the support and membership of young Malays.
"I want to tell you frankly when veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang launched his book earlier, I was present and strangely when I entered the hall I saw many people wearing headscarves (Malay children who came).
"They are supporters and members of DAP because I can see DAP and PKR have a broader ideology than just Malay and Islamic ideology," he said.
Meanwhile, Musa said Malays are still obsessed with the concept of Malay supremacy as the country was called Tanah Malaya and after the country achieved independence, the stance should have been changed.
"After independence, we (the country) was not formed by the Malays alone. But if we want to see who represents the Malays, they are Umno. Malays and Umno are quite synonymous and no one can challenge them.
"But now, the Malays are not united anymore, so this issue should be examined to protect the interests of the Malays," he explained.