KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has apparently rejected cooperation with Umno in the upcoming Melaka election by opting to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner instead.
Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision to operate under PN was decided by the PAS central working committee during its meeting yesterday evening.
“The decision was made after taking into account the guidance of PAS’ Syura Council, which met on October 31, in line with Clause 84 of the PAS constitution,” Hadi said in a brief statement today issued past midnight.
While Hadi did not further elaborate on the reasons for siding with PN, the decision likely places Umno’s Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact with PAS on the brink of collapse.
PAS’ decision also appears to have caught Umno off-guard. Last Thursday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had said that his party would continue political cooperation with PAS in the state polls, although both parties would use their own symbols.
The decision, he said, was made during an Umno Supreme Council meeting chaired by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad said the Supreme Council’s decision was in line with the party’s aim to consolidate MN, as was decided during the 2020 Umno general assembly.
“The basis of the cooperation with PAS is guided by the principle that PAS will use its own party symbol in line with the spirit and resolutions made by the MN consultative committee on October 19 and November 18 last year,” Ahmad said.
“This is to avoid clashes with each other, and at the same time, maintain the use of our respective party logos in the election.”
The Election Commission has set November 20 as polling day for the Melaka election and November 8 for nomination. – The Vibes, November 2, 2021
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