PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today made fun of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s refusal to allow Umno to work with Bersatu, saying the party president was not wanted anyway. 

“We will reject his (Zahid) application if he wants to join us,” said Dr Mahathir, after chairing the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting today.

He also said the Umno members did not appear to share their president’s view.

“The president disapproves but the members are coming to join us,” Dr Mahathir said. 

Earlier today, Zahid said that although Umno was open to offers, it would not accept Dr Mahathir’s invitation to join the ruling party.

The Umno president said this was because the Malay party would never join a government that was under the control of DAP

“It’s unacceptable as DAP controls the government now. More so, when it wants to realise its Malaysian Malaysia agenda,” Zahid told reporters in Parliament.

“We cannot accept offers from any party that is still working with DAP. This is Umno and Barisan Nasional’s official position.”

Umno, the biggest opposition party, has focused much of its ire on DAP, which it blames for its defeat in the general election last year.

Zahid was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s invitation to Malay parties, including Umno, to join Bersatu for the sake of Malay unity.

“If we are split, we become weak, united we stand, divided we fall (bercerai roboh, bersatu teguh). (But) we find that there are people forming new parties, (now) we have become six, soon there will be 10, (then) 100,” Dr Mahathir had said in Johor last week.

“(If) There are 30 people in one party, How to win (the election)?” 

Zahid had immediately dismissed the invitation, saying Bersatu and Amanah should instead disband for the sake of Malay unity.

Zahid had declared that Umno would not cooperate with those with close ties to a party that neglected the Malays and Islam, in reference to DAP. – July 8, 2019.