UMNO leader says party has never wared from its stance on Islam

KUALA LUMPUR: United Malays National Organisation UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Friday that the party has never wavered from its stance of championing the rights of Malays, Bumiputera as well as defending the sanctity of Islam in the country.

He also stressed that UMNO party leaders and its grassroots should not be apologetic for championing these issues.

UMNO has made political adjustments without diluting the position of Islam and without sacrificing Malay Bumiputera's agenda and without betting the fate of the people as a whole, he said in his opening speech at the party's general assembly.

If anyone tries to play on sentiments that our political cooperation will erode the position of Islam, Malays and the Bumiputera, I would like to emphasise: UMNO is not a political chameleon, he said.

In the general assembly, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other leaders from the parties in the unity government, including Pakatan Harapan PH Ahmad Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister of Malaysia, said that fundamental issues involving Islam, Malays and Bumiputera have never been challenged by their political partners in the unity government.

My hope is that this reciprocity will erase our mutual suspicions. Let there be no more statements that can hurt us.

We don't hurt the feelings of Malays, he said. It's the same with us, avoid speech and actions that can invite restlessness of friends and colleagues, he said.

After the last election resulted in a hung parliament, Barisan Nasional BN became part of the unity government headed by PH, including Gabungan Parti Sarawak GPS Gabungan Rakyat Sabah GRS and Parti Warisan among others.

Ahmad Zahid said on Friday that there were attempts to portray UMNO as having abandoned its principles, bringing up the example of the issue of Allah.

However, on May 15, the Malaysian government's decision to withdraw an appeal against a ruling allowing Christians to use the word Allah in articles sparked controversy over the decades-long debate.

Umno and our representatives in the Cabinet have stressed that the word Allah cannot be used by non-Muslims. It is also the stance taken by the unity government, he said.