Umno-PAS talks: Don't ignore BN members

Gerakan vice-president Teng Hock Nan today struck back at suggestions that Umno should pursue talks with either opposition PKR or PAS in the name of Malay unity.

In a report by New Straits Times, Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz suggested that Umno should talk to PKR instead of PAS as the Islamic party was never interested in the Malay agenda.

"Instead of talking to PAS, I believe a better bet for some form of unity will be if Umno were to talk to Parti Keadilan Rakyat. It will be easier to sit and talk with them on the Malay-Muslim agenda," Nazri had said in Kuala Kangsar on Saturday.

In an e-mailed statement today, Teng advised the Umno supreme council member to discuss unity issues within the Barisan Nasional fraternity before approaching other parties.

"Nazri should not be so myopic as to talk about the Malay-Muslim agenda," said Teng.

"Rather, Umno should focus its time, effort, energy and attention towards working together with its other component party members to strengthen the structure and functions of BN.

"For Umno as a party, and even BN as a coalition, to remain a relevant political force in the country, both ought to change their mindset towards realising a Malaysian agenda and not just a Malay-Muslim agenda," he added.

BN should work for all races

Teng added that BN should work for all races and be seen to be representing all the races instead of just one race.

"I would like to advise Nazri Aziz that it would be wise for Umno to discuss and resolve all matters within the BN family first by discussing them at the supreme council before looking outside the coalition," said the former Pulau Tikus state assemblyman.

It recently emerged that Umno had ‘talks' with PAS after the elections, with a view to forming a state government in Selangor.