Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has warned that Malays risk becoming fragmented if every leader establishes their own “big umbrella” political platform.
He said while the idea of a united Malay front has gained support, many individuals aspiring to be prime minister are now setting up their own large coalitions. “As a result, there will be two, three or even more big umbrellas. Malays will join these various umbrellas just like political parties — and this will divide them,” he wrote on X today.
Mahathir stressed that the Malays are strong enough to win elections and form a government, but only if they unite under a single platform. “Believe me, if there is more than one big umbrella, the result will be disunity and defeat,” he said.
However, the former Umno president and Bersatu chairman said the objective is not to form a purely Malay government. Drawing a parallel with the Alliance Party — formed in 1952 by Umno, MCA and MIC to contest the first federal election — Mahathir said a coalition government could still be created together with the Chinese, Indians and other communities.
His remarks come despite his recent launch of a “Malay secretariat committee” aimed at “restoring Malay power” in government. He has maintained the movement is not politically motivated but designed to address problems he claims the current administration has failed to solve.
