KUALA LUMPUR – An Umno Youth grassroots leader has opposed the suggestion by the wing’s leader, Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh, for the party to quit the Unity government to join hands with PAS in Muafakat Nasional (MN).
Umno Jeli Youth Information chief Wan Mahussin Wan Zain said such a misstep would not only weaken the party but also fail to save the Malay race, which the party champions.
“Who doesn’t like it when the Malay race and the Muslims unite. But it is worth remembering that all these time, Umno has opposed Umno, but never DAP.
“Umno and PAS are in the same ‘pond’. There are PAS votes in Umno, and vice versa. But we keep blaming DAP, which I think is unfair,” Wan Mahussin said in a video posted on Facebook.
Yesterday, Akmal urged the Umno leadership to ally with PAS to bolster Malay political strength, while becoming a credible opposition force. The call comes following PAS election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor urging for the revival of MN ahead of the next general election.
Wan Mahussin said past experiences have shown that cooperating with PAS have only cost Umno.
“Umno worked with PAS in MN 1.0, when none of the parties had any positions. But when PAS came to power, the party chose Bersatu (as an ally). Who lost out at the end? Umno,” he pointed out.
Wan Mahussin warned that forsaking the Unity government for MN would only make Umno a “small opposition party” without any strategic roles.
“The claim that (Umno) leaving the government can bring down DAP is baseless. On the contrary, it only empties the space for Malay power and weakens Umno,” he said. – January 4, 2026