UMNO’S participation in the formation of the unity government after last year’s general election is no “forced marriage”, as claimed by certain parties.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said although some of the parties that form the government today have never established cooperation or had chemistry before, that is no reason not to create equality for country’s sake.

“Some people say we are in a forced marriage, but our parents, our grandparents, they didn’t even know each other when they got married, if people were in love for 10 years but the first year of marriage, the man was cheating, what is the point?

“If we want to remain in the unity government, we must have three things – respect, understanding and trust for each other,” he said when speaking at the Unity Government National Youth Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Akmal also called for the different parties’ wings to reject all differences and find common ground, to ensure continued political stability in the country.

In the same session, Angkatan Muda Harapan chief Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said every difference should be seen as a strength and not as an obstacle, to foster unity in the country.

“For me, in every struggle, in every work we do, the foundation is unity. Without unity we have no stability, without stability we have no development, without development we have no transformation and without transformation we have no wellbeing.

“I stand here with the leaders (of other political parties) to rebuild this beloved country, on the basis and principles of respect and courtesy towards all races, religions and nations, and all these backgrounds are the foundation of the formation of the beloved nation of Malaysia,” he said. – Bernama, May 14, 2023.