Malaysia’s Opposition Parties Consider UMNO’s Grand Coalition Proposal

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s opposition parties, particularly the Malay-Islamic factions, have expressed a willingness to explore a proposal from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) for a “grand collaboration.” However, they raised concerns about UMNO’s role within the current unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Proposal Details and Party Reactions

During his closing remarks at UMNO’s annual general assembly on March 17, 2024, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi introduced the idea of this collaboration. He emphasized that the initiative aims to “unite the struggles” of various Malay-Islamic parties and is not intended to undermine the existing government. Zahid indicated that the coalition would involve at least ten senior leaders from these parties, including their presidents and deputy presidents, as reported by local media outlet Astro Awani.

The opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) stated that it would only consider the proposal once full details are available. Its president, former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, noted that no mandate has been given to party leaders to engage in discussions about the proposal thus far. Meanwhile, the Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is reviewing the proposed “form of cooperation,” questioning its significance if UMNO continues to support the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government. “What is its meaning and purpose?” asked PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, highlighting potential confusion among the electorate.

Concerns and Call for Transparency

Bersatu and PAS are key players in the Perikatan Nasional opposition coalition. Following his resignation as chairman of the bloc on January 1, 2024, Muhyiddin challenged Zahid’s assertion that discussions had already occurred with leaders of the Malay-Islamic parties. He clarified, “This matter has never been discussed in any Bersatu Supreme Council meeting,” as quoted by Free Malaysia Today. Muhyiddin insisted that any discussions regarding cooperation must go through official channels and involve the top leadership of both parties.

Bersatu’s information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz expressed skepticism about the grand coalition, suggesting it might be a political maneuver aimed at maintaining the unity government. He stated that what the Malaysian public needs is not a concept to “prop up a failed government,” but rather a genuine coalition that addresses the interests of Islam and the Malay community. “What the people need right now is a truly genuine movement,” he added.

Zahid’s proposal received enthusiastic support from UMNO delegates at the assembly, with many standing in favor of the initiative. “With this grand collaboration, we will set aside our differing political stripes for the sake of the Malays and Islam under one roof together,” Zahid affirmed. He assured Prime Minister Anwar that there is no agenda to threaten the unity government, but rather a sincere effort to include all Malay and Islamic parties in a unified agenda.

This proposal comes as calls to revive the Muafakat Nasional (MN) collaboration—a previous electoral pact between UMNO and PAS that fell apart when PAS and Bersatu formed Perikatan Nasional—gain momentum. Zahid stated that UMNO has rejected this revival, noting that MN has been registered as a non-governmental organisation. When questioned if the grand collaboration shares similarities with MN, Zahid maintained that it aims to transcend previous arrangements, asserting, “This is not about being racial or marginalising other communities.”

As the political landscape in Malaysia continues to evolve, the reception of UMNO’s proposal remains uncertain. The dialogues among the parties could significantly impact the opposition’s strategy and the overall stability of the current government.