In a Facebook post, Zaid said joining forces with “another set of Malay leaders with influence” would be the opposition’s surest path to election victory.
“Umno has leaders with the ability to influence Malay voters and together, a PH-Umno pact will bring in the largest number of seats since the good old days of Barisan Nasional dominance.”
“This will bring stability to the country, and many good things can be done with a stable government.”
He said that while some in the opposition may object to such a union, bringing these parties together would be “the definitive moment of (Anwar’s) career,” and added that those sceptical of Umno “must be willing to work with Malay political groupings of influence” in order to get reforms implemented.
“Umno, too, must stop believing in its own propaganda that Anwar and DAP are enemies of the people. The ghosts of the past must be laid to rest – and only then can new dreams take hold.”
Zaid believes the two parties can find common ground on reforms to institutions such as the police oversight committee and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as to the appointment of key figures like the Bank Negara governor and parliament Speaker.
“Umno leaders will agree to these reforms because they have, for the first time in their history, been subject to unfair treatment from those in power. They, like Anwar, will want changes so that the practice of using political power to annihilate opponents will come to an end.”
On the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate, he said it would have to be either Anwar or an Umno nominee, and said the number of seats won by each party will have some bearing on who ends up at the helm.
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