KOTA KINABALU: The unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is more meaningful than the Malay Proclamation initiated by the former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said although ethnicity is a grassroots issue, the big Malaysian nation and concept of Malaysia Madani should be given priority.
"I would like to wish the best of luck to the meeting between Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Dr Mahathir. I wish them this because we know that Dr Mahathir is a new liability of the country's politics.
"This has been proved after he suffered defeat in Langkawi (in the 15th General Election) and lost his deposit. None of the candidates from his party (Pejuang Tanah Air) was successful at that time.
"If this meeting (Malay Proclamation) is purportedly for the unity of the Malays, it should be known that even though Umno is Malay and Bumiputera-based party, we feel that the unity government has a greater meaning to our country.
"And even though ethnicity is a grassroots issue but the Malaysian nation, the unity government that has been formed and Malaysia Madani should be given priority," he said at a press conference after attending Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Sabah Umno headquarters building, here, today.
The Umno president was referring to a recent meeting over the 'Malay Proclamation' between PAS president Abdul Hadi and former Parti Pejuang president Dr Mahathir.
The said meeting was to enhance unity among Malays who formed the majority in the country.
Zahid said the most important thing is the multiracial people in this country.
"We should put aside political differences let alone ethnic differences for the sake of the country.
It is enough that for the past one term, our country's politics have been raging and we have had three different leaderships. Look at the consequences that happened to our country and the people.
"Now, we are forming a government (unity government) under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar with the support of 19 parties in four main coalitions. This is a priority," he said.
He said, Umno also upholds the order of the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who had previously voiced out that the economy must recover, and that Malaysia's prosperity must be prioritised.
"All political party leaders need to appreciate and uphold Sultan Ibrahim's order in line with the desire to progress and form a politically and economically stable country.
"We want stable politics so that the economic growth is increasing rapidly. We also want investment from outside to be coming in, and the economic gross has to be given top priority.
"What important is the well-being of the people, not politics anymore, and of course, we must end the various political situations and not raise new issues.
"The current government is stable with 148 Members of Parliament supporting it and that support should be increased. Cooperation between the state and federal governments should be enhanced for the benefit of the people as a whole," he said.
On allegation that Umno members and leaders were involved in the Malay Proclamation movement, Ahmad Zahid said that his party would look at their motives before taking any action.
"We will look into it first and carefully discuss it through the political bureau before bringing it to the Supreme Council." he said.