Rais likened Bersatu to a storm-hit house with few pillars remaining and the strong ones left already shaking.
In a Facebook post today, he said the Bersatu president should first focus on his storm-hit house.
His remarks came after an exchange between Muhyiddin and Samsuri.
Muhyiddin said on Wednesday that Samsuri was not necessarily PN’s prime ministerial candidate for the next general election despite his role as coalition chairman.
Samsuri responded that the current priority should be strengthening PN ahead of GE16, adding that Muhyiddin was no longer the prime ministerial candidate anyway.
Call for Malay consolidation
Rais, a former Senate president, said Muhyiddin should concentrate on uniting the Malay community, now divided across several parties.
He pointed out that the Chinese community has two major parties in DAP and MCA.
Rais suggested Muhyiddin should knock on Umno’s doors in this auspicious month of Ramadan.
He noted that Pak Zahid – Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – would certainly have ambitions to become prime minister.
Rais added that the choice of prime minister depends on which party wins the most seats in Parliament.
He highlighted that PAS currently holds the largest share at 43 seats and wished for that number to increase in the 16th general election.
Internal challenges highlighted
Rais reminded Muhyiddin of Bersatu’s greatly reduced numbers after recent sackings and rumours that remaining MPs might support sacked former deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
On February 14, Rais resigned as chairman of a Bersatu committee set up to strengthen party unity, a day after the party sacked 17 leaders including Hamzah.
Earlier today, Zahid said Umno’s doors are unconditionally open to former members and that all past mistakes and differences will be forgiven in the spirit of Ramadan.
He had also said on February 10 that the party remained open to welcoming back former members such as Hamzah.
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