Umno-Pas unity crucial, Nazri says it will bring political stability

SHAH ALAM - Umno maverick Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said Muafakat Nasional is the key to unite the Malay Muslim community in the country and ensuring stability in Malaysian politics.

This comes despite Umno leaders snubbing the Islamic party, Pas in the 15th general elections (15GE).

“Malay Muslim unity is important maybe not for the Malays, but for the country, they represent 60 per cent of the Malaysian population so when I call for Pas and Umno to be together, it is for stability,” he said during Sinar Daily Politically Frank segment.

He said Pas has sometimes been labelled as "Taliban" but the Islamic party has been ruling Kelantan for 25 years and no mass migration of non-Muslims out of the state has been recorded.

He further claimed Pas is just like Umno.

“You heard Pas talking about how we should be fair to everyone regardless of religion and all that, it’s the same as Umno.

“They don’t have the Taliban way of thinking, they are liberal and reasonable. Once they taste power, they are just like any Umno member,” the Padang Rengas MP added.

Nazri, the former tourism, arts and culture minister, has been a minister for 19 years and held various prominent posts in the government and Barisan Nasional, and served under three prime ministers.

Respect one another in Dewan Rakyat

Nazri, the six-term MP further called on both sides of the aisle to respect one another in the Dewan Rakyat as they represent the rakyat in the House.

The six-term MP said he enjoys the Dewan Rakyat sitting as he does not have enemies from both sides of the divide. But he said there are some MPs who refuse to sit behind another MP in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Why should there be any difference because I am in the government, in Umno, and they are not? Does that make me better than them?

“No, we are elected by the people, so let’s respect each other,” he said.