KUALA LUMPUR, April 7, 2026 — Former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad addressed recent claims that he has caused division among the Malay community, explaining the rationale behind leaving UMNO and founding Parti Bersatu.
Dr. Mahathir in a Facebook posting said he left UMNO because the party had strayed from its original mission, prioritising personal wealth over the interests of the Malay community, the nation, and religion.
He emphasised that his objective in establishing Parti Bersatu was to provide a home for Malays disillusioned with UMNO under Najib, keeping the community united under a party that could replace UMNO.
“Many UMNO members, however, chose to remain in the party,” he said, acknowledging accusations that he had split the Malay community.
He argued that the division among Malays was not solely caused by Bersatu, but was the result of ongoing support for UMNO despite its shift towards self-enrichment. He also noted that some former UMNO members did not join Bersatu, further contributing to the fragmentation.
Dr. Mahathir cited the 14th General Election, where Parti Bersatu won only 13 seats, as evidence that UMNO supporters’ continued loyalty led to a degree of division among Malays.
He stressed that unity, rather than any single party, is the source of Malay strength. “UMNO’s victory against the British was not due to its name, but because Malays were united,” he said.
“If multiple parties had existed then, Malays would have been divided and unlikely to have succeeded.”
Dr. Mahathir explained that the formation of the “Big Umbrella” (Payung Besar) concept was intended to bring all Malays together under one organisation to maximise the chances of electoral success.
“The strength of the Malay community today comes from unity, not from any one party,” he concluded.
–Minutes MY / Press KL
