UMNO Youth has rejected claims that the proposed establishment of Rumah Bangsa Malaysia is an attempt by the party to regain dominance in Malay politics, stressing that the initiative is intended to strengthen unity among Malays.
Its chief, Muhamad Akmal Saleh, said the concept was never meant to position any party as the “big brother” in Malay political leadership. Instead, he explained that the proposal focuses on bringing together a Malay community that has become increasingly fragmented in recent years.
According to him, statements made earlier by UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had already emphasised the need for unity without conditions, stressing that the interests of religion and the Malay community should take precedence over individual ambitions or party interests.
“There has never been any statement suggesting that Rumah Bangsa was created for anyone to become a ‘big brother’. The UMNO president himself has called for unity without conditions because the interests of religion and the community are more important than personal interests,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
The remarks were made in response to criticism from PAS election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who also serves as the Menteri Besar of Kedah.
On Wednesday, Sanusi described the Rumah Bangsa Malaysia proposal as an attempt by UMNO to reconnect with other Malay-based parties after facing political pressure. He also mocked the party, claiming UMNO only seeks support from Malays when it is politically vulnerable but forgets them when it is in a stronger position.
Responding further, Akmal argued that the divisions currently seen in Malay politics are not caused by the public but by political leaders who are unwilling to put aside personal interests.
He said many Malays actually want to see a stronger and more united Malay-Muslim political force rather than one that continues to remain fragmented.
“The people want Malay-Muslim power to be strong and united. In reality, the division is not among the people but among leaders who still hold on to their ego,” he said.
Akmal added that if such attitudes continue among political leaders, divisions within the Malay community could persist. He stressed that the interests of religion and the community must always come before the interests of political parties.
