THE unity government has become more relevant since the launch of Proklamasi Orang Melayu, which focuses on the interests of a single race, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Yesterday several senior PAS leaders signed Proklamasi Orang Melayu, a document former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also signed in March, ostensibly to unite the Malay community.

On his Facebook page, Abu Bakar Yahya, political aide to Dr Mahathir, posted several photos of the leaders, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, signing the document.

The Proklamasi Orang Melayu group confirmed that the meeting took place last night, with several PAS leaders in attendance, including vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman.

Zahid zeroed in on his former leader in his comments at an Umno function in Kota Kinabalu today.

“I wish Hadi and Dr Mahathir all the best following their recent meeting, because we all know that Dr Mahathir is the latest liability in Malaysian politics.

“This is proven by his loss in Langkawi, when he even lost his deposit. In fact, none of the candidates from his party won a seat.

“If this meeting is truly to unite the Malays, they must know that Umno is the largest Malay-Bumiputera party and that the unity government has greater meaning to the country,” Zahid said.

“The multiracial and multicultural nature of the unity government has a greater significance to Malaysia.

“The question of ethnicity may come from the grassroots, but the Malaysian race is big.

“The unity government that is formed by four dominant forces is driven by us all and should be given priority,” Zahid said today.

“It is important that the unity of the people under the current government.

“We should put aside political differences, what more ethnic differences for the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Zahid also reminded the opposition to pay serious attention to Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s statement, calling for an end to the continued political plotting.

“We in Umno honour the call and hope we can all do the same to move forward and work on building a nation that is politically stable, so we can help grow the economy and attract foreign investments.

“Economic growth has to be given top priority,” he said.

On Wednesday, Sultan Ibrahim expressed concern over recent reports on the stability of the current government.

He said six months had passed since the general election but the 222 MPs were still unable to get on the same page.

“Enough is enough. How much longer must the population of our country endure this situation?

“The economy must recover, and Malaysia’s prosperity must be prioritised,” he said in a Facebook post. – May 4, 2023.