THE issue of Umno-DAP cooperation should not be raised again considering that the two parties have reached a mutual agreement during the formation of the unity government, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said Umno is also informing its grassroots regarding the collaboration.

“This matter does not need to be raised again because we have addressed it several times,” the Bagan Datuk MP told reporters today.

“In fact, during negotiations for the formation of the unity government, it was one of the main conditions for them to agree to and there is no need to repeat what has been agreed to.”

Zahid said this when he was asked to comment on the policy speech of Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who urged DAP to apologise to Umno if it wants the Malays to accept it ahead of the state elections.

“We have this principle of cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH). So this is the basis for the formation of the current government,” the deputy prime minister said.

“Don’t be swayed by those who are not happy with the existence and stability of the government.”

Zahid is also confident that the relationship between BN and PH, a coalition that includes PKR, Amanah, and DAP, is beginning to form mutual compatibility.

However, he said, at the grassroots level, Umno clearly has its own way of convincing its members.

“The fact is that the togetherness of BN and PH is formed with increasing compatibility. Maybe at the grassroots, there is a certain method to explain it,” he said.

“In the town hall session by the chief, this matter was clear. This matter did not arise again and in the president’s briefing, I mentioned it. There was enlightenment on this matter.”

Umno is among the 19 parties that worked together to form a unity government after no party had a simple majority of 112 to form the federal government following the general election last year.

Following that, Umno, which is a component party of BN, along with MCA and MIC, had to work with DAP, which has been a traditional enemy for decades.

Akmal, in his speech at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this morning, also reminded DAP to prove that ity does not have a racist agenda in the administration of the unity government.

He insisted that Umno remained true to the principles of its struggle to protect the Malays and Islam, despite working with DAP. – June 8, 2023.