Speaking to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, the urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister said this was the best time for supporters of both parties to unite after decades of politicking.
“We have two leaders, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who place the unity of the ummah above their political and personal interests,” Rahman said.
He also said that the breakaway from Umno, which led to the formation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, led by former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was a good thing, as it led to Umno and PAS “instinctively coming closer”.
“That’s an advantage we have in the current political situation. Previously, we would not have thought that PAS and Umno could have come to a discussion,” the minister siad.
“The uniting of PPBM and DAP gives Umno the advantage because Malays and the Bumiputera see DAP as a party that threatens their interests. This is the reality.”
The coming together of PPBM and DAP manifested itself when Mahathir turned up at the recent DAP conference.
Najib and Abdul Hadi appeared together onstage at a rally in solidarity with the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.
Although Rahman cautioned that the challenge presented by PPBM and Parti Warisan Sabah, championed by former Umno man Shafie Apdal, could not be taken lightly, he also said that the Malay community had to turn to Umno to protect their safety and interests.