UMNO Youth head Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh should consider leaving his party and joining PAS if he is convinced that both parties can bring about Malay unity, said Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
Syerleena, a DAP member, said that it is better that Akmal joins PAS because he has yet to realise that Umno is a significant part of the national unity Madani government, which is trying its best to sustain political stability.
Akmal may not want to admit this but Umno adds value to the government of the day.
"Akmal claims that there are many cases which the Malay - Muslim community have been insulted. There is no evidence. There might be isolated cases but the authorities have prosecuted those who instigated such matters," said Syerleena.
Taking to social media, she said that the national unity Madani government has increased allocations in Malay heartland states such as Kelantan and Terengganu in comparison to last year.
There are more allocations than ever to the Islamic authorities such as JAKIM to safeguard the rights and religious obligations of the Malay - Muslims, she said.
Syerleena said this in response to reports where Akmal said it was is better for Umno to exit the national unity government because the Malay - Muslims in the country were being trampled on, and it is time to revive the Muafakat Nasional - a political pact between the two largest Muslim parties - Umno and PAS.
Penang PAS strategic communications director Anas Soffy Abd Wahid meanwhile, said the reunification of the Malays should not just be confined to PAS - Umno only, as there are many other similar political parties in the country.
"There is an urgency about reuniting Malays, especially in a tense and challenging political and economic environment of today," said Anas Soffy.
Besides Umno and PAS, there are also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Pejuang, Putra and Parti Amanah Nasional (Amanah) - which profess to represent the interests of Malay - Muslims, he said.
"When PAS and Umno formed the initial Muafakat Nasional, the latter failed to show sincerity with the former."
The main issue was the jostling for seats among each other, said Anas Soffy.
"The previous mistakes should not be allowed to recur if Umno and PAS wants to get together," he said.
He said if Malay unity is the ultimate priority, it must involve the likes of Bersatu, Pejuang, Putra and Amanah.
More importantly, Umno must not see the pact from the perspective of a "big brother."
The pact must be fair and sincere with the division of seats done equally and not driven by ego or nostalgic, he added. - January 4, 2026
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