Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh has urged Umno and PAS to form an alliance for the upcoming Melaka state election, arguing that the current split among Malay parties has diluted their influence even in Malay-majority areas.
Call for Umno-PAS cooperation in Melaka
Speaking on the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Akmal, who is the Merlimau assemblyman, described the Melaka polls as an ideal starting point to test genuine political cooperation between the two major Malay-Muslim parties.
“I would rather it be Umno-PAS, even though PAS had won no seats in the last Melaka election,” he said.
Akmal stressed that Umno Youth had consistently advocated for Malay unity since the beginning. He added that meaningful unity required action, not just words.
“If we want Malay unity, we have to start now. We cannot just talk. We must prove it in Melaka, even if Umno has to make way for PAS in some seats,” he explained.
Addressing voter concerns and party strength
Podcast host Khairy Jamaluddin asked whether Akmal preferred Umno to contest alone or in partnership with another party.
Akmal replied that core Malay voters, particularly in rural and semi-rural areas, were troubled by divisions caused by multiple Malay-based parties.
He pointed out that votes lost by Umno had not gone to Pakatan Harapan but instead flowed to PAS and Perikatan Nasional.
Akmal said Umno could rebuild its strength only by reconnecting firmly with its Malay-Bumiputera base.
Perceptions of threat and unity message
When asked if Malays felt threatened, Akmal said the feeling was more noticeable outside urban centres.
“Maybe people in Kuala Lumpur don’t feel it. You can come to Melaka and see for yourselves, go to the villages,” he remarked.
He clarified that calls for unity were not aimed at taking away anyone’s rights, but at making Malays feel secure and united.
Akmal also dismissed fears that an Umno-PAS pact would marginalise non-Malays, noting that the wider Barisan Nasional framework would continue to function.
The current Melaka state assembly term ends in December. In the 2021 state election, Barisan Nasional won 21 of the 28 seats, Pakatan Harapan took five, and Perikatan Nasional secured two.
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