Muhammad: Umno is the goose that lays golden eggs

In his first press conference since his return to Umno last month, former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib today explained his reasons for rejoining the party.

During the lengthy 50-minute press conference at his house in Shah Alam, Muhammad made it clear that all he wants is for the country's politics to be left to the Malays.

"If Malays lose their grip on politics, who will be taking care of the rural Malays?"

Citing his time in the opposition, Muhammad, who joined PAS and subsequently switched to PKR before returning to Umno, claimed the Malay agenda was never discussed.

Just as how the country's Chinese should be encouraged to be in business while the Indians as professionals, Muhammad said this was the reason why Malays should have a tighter grip on politics.

"I want to remind the Malays, especially those in Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlements, not to be easily influenced by their (the opposition's) manipulation," he said.

"I just want to remind the Malays, in our anger, not to accidentally kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Muhammad, who is widely known as Mat Taib.

Asked whether the goose laying the golden eggs was Umno, he said: "Are there other political platforms for the Malays, apart from Umno?

"When I attended PKR's supreme council meetings, they were full of all races, one couldn't speak about Malay interests.

"It is not practical. We need to have one Malay platform that discusses Malay matters," Muhammad said.

[More to follow]

- Mkini