Dr M: If Umno, Pas want to get married, let them
KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno-Pas cooperation is an attempt to alienate Malays from other races, Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
Claiming that the pact would adversely affect unity, Dr Mahathir said Malay interest would be looked after by PH.
“We are looking after the interest of Malays, except that we don’t shout about it.
“They (Umno-Pas pact) try to separate Malays from other races. That is bad for a multiracial country.
“The interest of Malays will be looked after by PH. We want to make sure that it is not only equal but fair,” Dr Mahathir said after the opening of the first meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah.
Umno and Pas had recently formed an official alliance to rally Malay support against PH.
Several PH leaders have retaliated against the move, claiming it was an affront to a multiracial society.
Dr Mahathir said all races stood to share an equal amount of the country’s wealth.
“Our relationship must be fair and equal, not just equal without fairness.
“So we will look after the interest of Malays and we have stated that we want an equitable share in the wealth of this country.”
However, Dr Mahathir said as Malaysia was a democratic country, Umno and Pas were free to form a pact.
“If they want to unite, then let them do so. They want to get married, then let them get married.
“We are a free country. If a man wants to get married (to a woman), sure, it’s fine. (But) he cannot get married to another man.”