KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno Veterans Council, formerly the Umno Veterans Club, wants Opposition Malay-based parties such as PAS to merge with it under Barisan Nasional “to ensure a better future for the Malays and Muslims in the country.”
“Today, we think that PAS can merge with Umno for the sake of the Malays and Muslims, like we had pushed for during the pre-Independence era,” Umno Veterans information head Datuk Dr Dzulkarnain Abdul Rahman.
“All the successes we had achieved previously was made possible because the Malays were united. It is our aspiration that the Malays remain united so that we are stronger.
“We should set aside all our political differences and agendas,” he said at a press conference after the Umno Veterans meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here Wednesday.
He also asked for full support of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept which, ironically, promotes Malaysia’s multiculturalism and the contributions of all races.
There were meetings between certain leaders from both parties after the 12th general election last March, but possible merger talks came to naught.
Umno Veterans deputy chairman Datuk Mohd Zaid Sirat proposed that the body be recognised by the party constitution like any other Umno wing, such as Wanita and Pemuda.
“We now have about 800,000 members. And we have served for so long.
“We want greater recognition and we also wish to suggest to party president and Prime Minister Najib that there are observers from the veterans group at every Umno level, from the Supreme Council, state and divisional levels,” Zaid said.
No comments:
Post a Comment