SHAH ALAM: There is no truth to rumours that Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib (pic) was supposed to bring eight PKR assemblymen with him when the former Selangor mentri besar rejoined Umno recently.
“I went there alone, and without any plan to bring anyone with me, to rejoin Umno to serve the Malay community,” Muhammad told a press conference at his home at Section 7 here Monday.
He said such talk was the work of spin doctors.
Muhammad said he wanted to apologise to the people for being away from Umno for a while, as well as to call upon the community to ensure that political control remained in Malay hands.
“Many Malays still live in rural areas and only if we have political control can they be helped,” he said.
Muhammad said these Malays needed help because they were “slow” and said the situation must return to the old composition where the Malays controlled politics, the Chinese the businesses, and the Indians were professionals such as doctors, lawyers and engineers.
He added that the Opposition would not be able to fully protect the interests of the Malays due its multiracial composition.
“When I attended its meetings, I noticed that Malay interests were not discussed as it was not possible to do so because of the many different races there,” he said.
However, Muhammad added that although Malay interests must be prioritised, people of other races must be given positions if they are qualified, as opposed to appointing only Malays simply because they held political control.
He cited the protest by certain quarters over the appointment of Datuk Seri Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy as the Customs Department director-general as an example.
“It was childish and silly to protest against the appointment. If someone is qualified for a particular position it should be given to him regardless of his race,” he said.
Muhammad left Umno to join PAS in 2011, then left the Islamist party to join PKR in 2013.
His return to Umno was announced in a much-hyped press conference held by party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sept 17.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/10/02/mat-taib-it-was-only-me-rejoining-umno-not-eight-pkr-members/#c45sDufyw4CcI2ml.99
