Opposition did not fight for Malay agenda: Mat Taib

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib said he returned to Umno because the opposition did not fight for the Malay agenda.
The former Umno vice-president said the position made him feel that the struggle of the opposition especially PKR in the past five years had been in futile.
"After seeing the situation there, I felt my struggle had been in vain. In the party meetings I attended, we never discussed the Malay agenda.
"When they lost the Malay (agenda) , they also lost their own religious struggle. I found that there are no other parties except Umno which will always fight for the interests of the Malays," he told a special media conference at Umno headquarters in Menara Dato' Onn here today.
Present at the media conference was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who is also Umno president who announced the return of Muhammad Muhammad Taib to Umno. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and members of Umno's supreme council.
Muhammad, 72, said the agenda of the Malay struggle had been his primary focus since he began his career in politics.
"Thanks to the Prime Minister and party president for accepting my return. After this I pledge to fight for the party especially in Selangor. I see many interests of the Malays have been set aside to their detriment," he said.
He said the Malays should be with Umno to strengthen unity and the solidarity would ensure the political position of the Malays would be preserved.
This is because a split among Malays would invite certain quarters to take advantage of the situation.
When asked when he had decided to return to Umno, Muhammad said his heart had always been with the party. — Bernama