Former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim has urged Malays to move beyond political rivalry and focus on finding common ground amid growing divisions within the community.
After being less visible on the political stage for some time, Mashitah said unity should not be reduced to seat negotiations or electoral interests, but must be built on trust, mutual respect and the ability to manage differences.
In an interview with Utusan Malaysia, she also urged professionals and others who have withdrawn from politics to speak up on issues affecting the country.
She said political decisions directly affected education, household economies, security, religious values and the future of the country.
“I always say that if good people continue to remain silent, wrongdoing happens not simply because there are too many bad people, but because good people choose not to speak up,” she said.
On the call for penyatuan ummah, Mashitah said divisions among Malays remained a concern, describing the relationship between UMNO and PAS as sometimes resembling “Tom and Jerry”, with the two parties alternating between conflict and cooperation.
However, she said there was still room to find common ground, particularly as Malaysian politics had become increasingly fragmented.
She argued that unity was no longer simply an option, pointing out that Malay political support was now spread across multiple parties, while some Malays had also joined DAP.
“Unity does not mean everyone has to be in the same party. We can remain in different parties while reducing hostility,” she said.
Mashitah said political cooperation should also extend beyond elections, stressing that unity built solely around political interests could be fragile as priorities could change.
She pointed to the example of the Constitution of Medina, saying its approach showed how different groups could coexist by recognising their differences while focusing on shared interests.
On rebuilding trust between political parties, Mashitah said there was a need for what she described as a “truce from insults”, arguing that efforts towards unity would be difficult if parties continued trading accusations and provocative remarks.
“If in the time of Prophet Muhammad there was a truce, perhaps today we need a truce from insults,” she said.
She also rejected the idea that unity should be measured by how many parliamentary seats each party could secure.
Instead, she said parties should focus on broader issues affecting Malaysians, including the rising cost of living, economic opportunities and the future of young people.
Mashitah said many young Malaysians were struggling financially, with some having to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet.
She also argued that political parties should focus more on delivering results rather than prolonged disputes, saying Malays and Muslims remained protected under the Federal Constitution.
“Politics is indeed about power because power allows policies to be changed. So, instead of continuing to divide ourselves, why not bring those separate strengths together?” she said.
However, Mashitah stressed that political unity alone was insufficient, saying it should be followed by efforts to strengthen the economy and narrow the gap between the wealthy and ordinary Malaysians.
