POLITICAL DIFFERENCES MUST BE MANAGED WITH WISDOM, SAYS MOHAMAD HASAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said political differences, if not managed with wisdom, could ultimately bring about the collapse of a government.

Mohamad, who is also Foreign Minister, said this had been witnessed in several countries where unchecked political conflict paralysed state institutions.

He said that if a government were to fall without a clear succession plan, what would emerge would not be freedom, but a power vacuum.

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“When politics becomes a field of vengeance, extremist elements emerge. When leadership is divided, foreign interference begins to take root.

“This is what happens when anger overrides wisdom and when power is brought down without the responsibility to rebuild,” he said in his speech at the simultaneous opening of the UMNO Wanita, Youth and Puteri general assemblies here tonight.

He said such a situation would cause the economy to slide and prompt investors to flee, ultimately leaving the people to bear great hardship.

Mohamad said the nation’s long-cherished pride - its freedom from war and violence - could also be lost in an instant. 

As such, he said any anger or bold action must be accompanied by strategy and a sense of responsibility, and warned against emotion-driven approaches that could undermine national stability. 

“So, where are we headed? Are we going to leave the government tomorrow and allow the country to descend into chaos? No. That is the path of those who surrender to emotion, not the work of statesmen,” he said.

Mohamad also urged UMNO members to support the party’s role within the Unity Government by offering constructive views, sound ideas and reasonable criticism. 

He further reminded all parties that repeatedly entering and exiting political alliances is not a genuine solution to rebuilding the party, nor does it address the problems and weaknesses faced by UMNO. 

On Jan 5, UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) would remain in the Unity Government together with Pakatan Harapan (PH) until the end of the current term, despite calls from the Youth wing for the party to withdraw from the government. 

-- BERNAMA