UMNO should not be accused of betraying its Malay Muslim agenda by accepting DAP and Anwar Ibrahim as partners when other political parties have previously cooperated with both, party veterans and grassroots leaders said.

They said that if PAS and Bersatu could work with DAP, Umno could also do the same for the sake of the country.

Umno Veterans Association secretary Mustapha Yaakub said the opposition has accused Umno of having “sold its soul” by joining the unity government with Anwar Ibrahim and DAP, which is multi-racial.

“Let’s say you have a problem with your neighbour, a very serious problem, but one day, your child wants to marry your neighbour’s child. Would you invite the neighbour to your house for the ceremony?” said Mustapha.

“Of course you would. Would that mean you have sold your principles? Have you lost your dignity?

“The halls of the Umno building are not Malay halls. Anyone can rent them for a wedding reception. Chinese and Indians can come to the halls,” he said, referring to Umno’s invitation to Pakatan Harapan members to attend its AGM. 

He said Umno has not strayed from its path.

“The accusation is made by our enemies and people in Umno opposed to the leadership. Let Anwar and DAP come (to the AGM) so they can listen to what Umno leaders have to say.”

Prime Minister Anwar and DAP’s top guns will attend the Umno general assembly for the first time since the unity government was formed last year.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the leaders of the component parties in the government will attend the event today.

Umno Arau Youth chairman Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar said PAS has accused his party of being an infidel.

He said PAS and Bersatu had worked with DAP in the  Selangor and federal governments.

“Remember, it was PAS who accused Umno of being a party of infidels but that didn’t stop Umno from working with PAS and invited them to our AGM.”

“PAS was once a friend to DAP. Their leaders were hugging each other on stage. But just because PAS is no longer friends with DAP doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends with DAP,” said the Perlis Umno information chief.

Another grassroots leader, Jamal Md Yunos said Umno accepted Anwar and DAP because it was decreed by the king as a means to end the political tumult following a hung parliament.

He said Umno has always worked to protect Islam, the monarch and the country.

“We invite parties in the unity government so that they can understand Umno’s struggle and what it means to us. 

“It was the king who wanted political parties to set aside their differences to form a stable government and now our enemies are using this as a way to divide the country,” said the former Red Shirts leader.

Jamal, who was known to be strongly opposed to DAP,  said other parties had worked with DAP before.

“The opposition has done nothing but smear us. They have to remember they were the first to accept DAP.

“Was it okay for them back then? If it was okay, why can’t Umno work with DAP now? 

What Umno did was for the sake of the country and the people. People can judge for themselves.” – June 7, 2023.