KUALA LUMPUR – Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has rejected narratives that portray DAP as a political threat, saying he is not afraid of the party and does not want Malays to be driven by fear.
Mohamad, popularly known as Tok Mat, said Malay unity had once been strong enough to expel colonial powers from the country and should not now be undermined by fear.
“I am not afraid of DAP and I do not want Malays to be afraid of DAP.
“When the Malays were united, we drove the British out of this country.
“So why should we be afraid of DAP?” he said during his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2025 on Saturday.
Mohamad reiterated that confidence, unity and political maturity were essential for Umno to remain relevant and effective, adding that fear should never dictate the party’s direction or decisions as it would only weaken Umno’s role and influence within the unity government.
He claimed there were parties who viewed Umno’s presence in the government as “a thorn in the flesh”, particularly because the party continues to object to policies it disagrees with at the Cabinet level.
“When Umno does not agree with something in Cabinet, it cannot be implemented. That is why some are unhappy,” he said.
Mohamad said these disagreements have led to deliberate attempts to provoke anger and emotional reactions among Umno leaders and members.
“They want us to be angry. They cheer when we lose our temper, that is exactly what they want,” he said, warning that such emotional responses could pave the way for a repeat of the Pakatan Harapan 1.0 era, where there would be no strong internal voice to oppose or challenge decisions within the government.
He said Umno’s presence in the Unity Government remains crucial as a balancing force, ensuring that policies affecting the rakyat are properly debated and scrutinised.
Mohamad cited past decisions involving strategic national assets as lessons for the party, referring to the sale of land owned by Lembaga Tabung Haji and the disposal of IHH Healthcare, once established under Khazanah Nasional.
“These assets were not sold merely to raise funds. There was an understanding of the original intent and spirit behind the establishment of these entities,” he said, urging Umno leaders to reflect carefully before reacting or making decisions driven by emotion.
He stressed that Umno must think long-term and act wisely in navigating its position within the government, rather than allowing itself to be provoked into political missteps.