A UNITY government with Umno is out of the question because of the party’s corruption, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

“Yes, if they hadn’t spoiled Umno, I would choose Umno. 

“But they and their friend Najib (Razak) used Umno to obtain money, I definitely wouldn’t join that party,” he said at a press conference after an event at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi. 

The Pakatan Harapan chairman was responding to suggestions by Umno leaders that it was better for Dr Mahathir to form a unity government with opposition parties, following public criticism of PH’s performance after it lost the Tg Piai by-election last weekend.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was also present, also chided the suggestion to form a unity government with Umno.

“It’s ridiculous; we are part of Pakatan Harapan. This is the coalition that won the 14th general election and we are here today because of PH,” the Bersatu Youth chief said.

“Let’s not forget that these (opposition members) are the same leaders who looted from Malaysian coffers and are now being charged in court over more than 100 charges. They are still leading the same parties.”

Dr Mahathir had recently said that the majority of supreme council members in his party, Bersatu, had wanted him to reshuffle his cabinet.

This prompted Umno leader Shahidan Kassim and secretary-general Annuar Musa to urge Dr Mahathir to form a unity government with the opposition. 

Annuar had told Malaysiakini that Dr Mahathir must choose between Umno and DAP, saying that Malays rejected PH because DAP was a component party. – November 22, 2019.