He said the party will strive for Islam and the Malays, as highlighted in the party’s constitution.

“We have to bear in mind that the unity government comprises 19 parties, unlike the Umno-DAP narrative played by the opposition,” he said after an Umno briefing at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

The briefing was held to clear the air on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on all 47 corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering charges he was facing.

Zahid had been accused of embezzling millions of ringgit from his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister between 2013 and 2018.

Asyraf said the grassroots were unfazed by PN’s sentiments, adding that PH’s triumph in the recent Simpang Jeram by-election is also evidence of their support for Barisan Nasional, and specifically Umno, since the two parties are cooperating in the unity government.

“In Johor, we conducted briefing sessions for the grassroots. We can see that a significant victory was achieved. Even though BN did not compete in Simpang Jeram, the majority of votes has increased compared with before,” he said, referring to the Johor state election held in March 2022.

He added that the manipulation of perceptions, as well as slander thrown at Umno, must be addressed with facts, without resorting to the “cheap sentiments” employed by PN.

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