Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged all Malay political parties to unite in order to secure the total backing of the Malay rulers.
In an exclusive interview with FMT, Mahathir cautioned that disunity among the Malays will only serve to weaken the community and destabilise the royal institution.
He said the stability of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy depends heavily on the strength of Malay political unity.
“When the Malays are divided and weak, they think they can seek support from the rulers. However, according to the Federal Constitution, the royal institution has no role in politics.
“That’s why Malay parties must unite first. If they are united, they can look to the rulers for moral support,” he said.
Mahathir, who served as the country’s fourth and seventh prime minister, was giving his views on the role of the Malay rulers in fostering the unity of the race.
Issues surrounding Malay political power have surfaced repeatedly in recent years, particularly following the 15th general election (GE15) in 2022 which fragmented the Malay vote.
Following GE15, Umno, the country’s oldest Malay party, has aligned itself with former rival Pakatan Harapan.
The partnership, however, has unsettled certain segments of the party’s grassroots, particularly due to the presence of long-time nemesis, DAP, in the unity government.
Meanwhile, PN, dominated by Bersatu and PAS, sits in the opposition bloc with 68 MPs, nearly all of whom are Malay.
Mahathir said it was a misconception to assume that any particular leader was capable of uniting the Malay race.
Neither, he said, can any one person run the country on his own.
Reflecting on his 24 years as prime minister, Mahathir said he did not run the country on his own, often looking to advisory bodies made up of experts for guidance.
He said these groups were essential as many Cabinet members lacked expertise and administrative experience.
“For instance, during the financial crisis, I appointed experts from among financiers, businessmen, academics, and bankers (to guide us),” he said.
Mahathir said a leader must be willing to listen to expert advice.
“If leaders believe they are the only ones who are smart, our country could collapse,” he said.
