KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said Perikatan Nasional (PN) can still champion the rights of all Malaysians, not just Malay-Muslims.
The bloc comprises almost 90 per cent Malay-Muslim representatives, which has raised the question of whether they embody a genuine national viewpoint.
The fact PN counts Islamist party PAS as a coalition member has also contributed to this perception.
Before the 15th general election (GE15) in November, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang accused non-Muslims and non-Bumiputera of making up the bulk of what he called the “roots of corruption” — those who chase illicit gains — to the detriment of the country’s economy and politics.
“Yeah, why not? As I mentioned earlier, being a corporate man, I have a lot of non-Malay fans and also a lot of international fans,” he said during a press conference after the monthly Concorde Club meeting with senior editors.
Following the conclusion of GE15, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on November 24, 2022.
Hazmah is part of PN which is a political coalition made up of PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan.
PN’s chairman is former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, while Hamzah is the coalition’s secretary-general.
Muhyiddin rejected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s proposal for a unity government between his coalition and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Muhyiddin said PN has always agreed to not work with PH, and said he was disappointed that his claim of having the support of 115 MPs was dismissed.
The Concorde Club is an informal media group of local and foreign editors that meets regularly with political leaders and key policy makers. Previous speakers included Anwar, Rafizi Ramli, Anthony Loke, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
