'Malay umbrella': Opposition needs fresh idea to beat Anwar - Zaid
Published: Jun 5, 2025 11:45 AM
Updated: 1:45 PM
Summary
- Ex-minister Zaid Ibrahim believes the plan to consolidate Malay political forces under a secretariat announced by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad might not work.
- He says such efforts failed previously, as major Malay political parties only prioritise their own agendas instead of the big picture.
- He suggests the opposition set up a leadership cohort consisting of fresh and credible leaders to be presented as future national leadership.
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has expressed scepticism on a Malay secretariat announced by Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, which was dubbed as a “big umbrella” to save the community.
He said such attempts to consolidate Malay political forces in the past have failed, as major parties like Umno and PAS prioritised their own agendas.
“It is time for the opposition to rethink its approach and urgently rebuild itself with a fresh strategy.
“Bersatu has lost momentum. The anticipated exodus from Umno never happened, and the party now finds itself adrift.
“PAS, while still commanding its loyal base, has not adapted sufficiently to meet the expectations of a more informed and demanding electorate.
“If we are serious about presenting a genuine alternative to the current administration and uniting the Malays under a broader national vision, then the solution lies not in reviving tired structures, but in building something new and credible,” he said on X this morning.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Zaid was responding to a press conference held by Mahathir and opposition politicians yesterday, where the former prime minister announced the formation of a Malay secretariat committee.
The decision to form the committee was made following a meeting with several political leaders, including those from Perikatan Nasional.
The committee, as Mahathir puts it, would serve as a platform to address issues affecting the Malay community that the current government has failed to resolve.
20 Malaysians under 50
Adding further, Zaid said the opposition needs to offer the people a new front that is “real, credible, and inspiring” to defeat the Anwar Ibrahim-led government.
“I propose the formation of a leadership cohort: a group of 20 capable Malaysians, preferably under the age of 50, with demonstrated integrity and success in their respective fields - politics, business, academia, civil society, and entrepreneurship.
“This group should be publicly presented as the nucleus of a future national leadership.
“Their task: to articulate a clear and practical blueprint for Malaysia’s future, focused on education reform, economic revitalisation, technological advancement, and fiscal prudence.
“This must not be another vague slogan or recycled manifesto. It must be a people-centric plan grounded in realism and driven by conviction,” he said.
Zaid stressed the group must be filled with individuals “from a broad and inclusive spectrum”, and not consist of existing party officials with worn-out ideas and questionable reputations.
“This new vision for Malaysia must stand in clear contrast to the current Madani rhetoric. It must be built on sincerity, competence, and a deep-rooted commitment to serve the rakyat - not personal ambition or the desire to reclaim lost power.
“It is not difficult to defeat Anwar - if the fight is led by people genuinely invested in the future of Malaysia, not those seeking to resolve their own legal or political problems. The people are ready to listen - but they must be offered something real, credible, and inspiring,” he said.
Zaid was responding to a press conference held by Mahathir and opposition politicians yesterday, where the former prime minister announced the formation of a Malay secretariat committee.
The decision to form the committee was made following a meeting with several political leaders, including those from Perikatan Nasional.
The committee, as Mahathir puts it, would serve as a platform to address issues affecting the Malay community that the current government has failed to resolve.
20 Malaysians under 50
Adding further, Zaid said the opposition needs to offer the people a new front that is “real, credible, and inspiring” to defeat the Anwar Ibrahim-led government.
“I propose the formation of a leadership cohort: a group of 20 capable Malaysians, preferably under the age of 50, with demonstrated integrity and success in their respective fields - politics, business, academia, civil society, and entrepreneurship.
“This group should be publicly presented as the nucleus of a future national leadership.
“Their task: to articulate a clear and practical blueprint for Malaysia’s future, focused on education reform, economic revitalisation, technological advancement, and fiscal prudence.
“This must not be another vague slogan or recycled manifesto. It must be a people-centric plan grounded in realism and driven by conviction,” he said.
Zaid stressed the group must be filled with individuals “from a broad and inclusive spectrum”, and not consist of existing party officials with worn-out ideas and questionable reputations.
“This new vision for Malaysia must stand in clear contrast to the current Madani rhetoric. It must be built on sincerity, competence, and a deep-rooted commitment to serve the rakyat - not personal ambition or the desire to reclaim lost power.
“It is not difficult to defeat Anwar - if the fight is led by people genuinely invested in the future of Malaysia, not those seeking to resolve their own legal or political problems. The people are ready to listen - but they must be offered something real, credible, and inspiring,” he said.
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