ROMPIN: DAP promised Umno in a meeting before the unity government was formed that it would uphold the position of Islam and the royal institution.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno president, said DAP had also stated that it would uphold the Malay special rights and Bahasa Melayu as the national language.
"Do not be scared (Umno supporters)....Tok Mat (Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) and Dr Zambry (Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir), along with me, were among seven individuals who met with the DAP leadership before the unity government was formed.
"My first question (to DAP) as the BN chairman and Umno president, was what is the position of Islam if we agree to work together with DAP? How about the Malay special privileges? How about the position of Bahasa Melayu? How about the royal institution?... these are the questions which I had asked them.
"DAP secretary-general (Anthony Loke) replied that the new DAP leadership would adhere and agree to everything in the Federal Constitution, including the four matters. So, what other questions do we need to raise?" he said in at a meet-and-greet session with the people at Kuala Rompin Hall here today.
Zahid asked Umno members in branches and divisions not to worry, saying he would not sell out Umno or BN.
Meanwhile, Zahid, who was here to campaign for the Tioman state election, said he did not make the decision to collaborate with PH alone but raised the matter to be discussed in the supreme council meeting.
"I know it is impossible to get everyone or 100 per cent to agree but I am grateful to my friends in the supreme council as almost 100 per cent have supported the move to be with PH as a unity government as told by the King ( Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah).
"Our decision is taken not just by looking at today or tomorrow but looking at five, 10, 15 and 20 years down the road. I am confident the decision is not a wrong move in ensuring that Umno and BN remain relevant in Malaysia's political landscape," he said.
Meanwhile, Zahid reminded BN members of parliament and assemblymen to work all year long for the next five years and give priority in servicing the people.
"Do not become a 'seasonal assemblyman' instead continue working all year long. I believe such an approach should be adopted by all elected representatives who have won in the general election and those who lost," he said.
On a separate matter, Zahid approved three requests made earlier by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, namely the construction of a mini sports complex for youths in Kuala Rompin, a mosque at Kampung Selendang and a cargo jetty at Kampung Tekek in Pulau Tioman.
Also present today were Wan Rosdy, Mohamad, Zambry, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Umno youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki along with BN's Tioman state seat candidate Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain.
Tioman will see a five-cornered contest between Johari, Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly, Perikatan Nasional's Nor Idayu Hashim, Parti Pejuang's Osman Bakar and independent candidate Sulaiman Bakar.
Polling for the Tioman state seat in the 15th General Election was initially scheduled on Nov 19, but was postponed to Dec 7 following the death of PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli.