KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sincere in inviting all Malay parties, including Umno, to join the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
The Bersatu president said Dr Mahathir wanted this as it would strengthen solidarity within the Malay community.
He said the community was the largest in the country, yet was seen to have broken up into several groups.
“This is a good idea as we want to see greater solidarity among us. Currently, we are getting a variety of reactions (to Dr Mahathir’s call)... that is something that is quite normal, but what Tun said was a sincere invitation,” he said.
Muhyiddin was speaking to reporters after attending a Hari Raya function organised by the Federal Territories Ministry with the police force at the Police Training Centre here.
Present were Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador and his deputy Datuk Mazlan Mansor.
Muhyiddin said he hoped that other Malay leaders would welcome Dr Mahathir’s call so that Malay unity could be strengthened.
On Friday, Dr Mahathir had invited all Malay parties, including Umno, to join Bersatu.
He had said the Malays were a divided community, with as many as six political parties representing them, adding that his call was a means to unite the community.