KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu was never part of the plan when Muafakat Nasional (MN) inked its political charter in September 2019, said Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan amid the souring relationship between Umno and PAS.
In a Facebook post today, the Umno number two said the reason MN was formed was to fight Pakatan Harapan (PH), a coalition Bersatu was a part of then.
“As such, to force Umno to accept Bersatu is against the true spirit of MN’s formation, what more when we reminisce how Bersatu has conspired with DAP in defeating the Umno-led (federal) government,” he said.
Mohamad said this in response to a remark by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday that Umno’s decision to violate the MN charter, by rejecting the inclusion of Bersatu, was the reason why the Islamist party no longer wants to be part of the pact.
Hadi had said, under the charter, even non-governmental organisations are also to be allowed to join, but claimed Umno failed to ensure this when it came to the matter of implementation.
Mohamad, known as Tok Mat, said while it is true MN should be an umbrella for all the Malays, any party that wishes to join the pact must be in harmony with its interests.
On a similar note, he said the charter must also be interpreted in line with the current political reality of Umno and PAS.
“That is why Umno never invited PKR, Amanah, Putra or Pejuang to join MN, although they are part of the ummah. Honestly, Umno didn’t want to offend PAS.
“PAS and the whole of Malaysia know that delegates in Umno’s general assembly have decided that we will not form any sort of cooperation with Bersatu. Umno is tied to this stand.
“Hence, it is very reasonable for this reality to be understood and accepted before PAS proposes for a new membership in MN.”
Mohamad said PAS should not act on its own whim by choosing to abandon MN simply because Umno did not want to accept Bersatu as part of the coalition.
“Don’t do something that will in the end push the Malays further away from MN.”
Umno and PAS have shared a fractious relationship of late after the latter opted to be in bed with Bersatu under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
Things came to a head when PAS contested under the PN banner in the recently concluded Melaka election, even fielding candidates in seats where BN contested. – The Vibes, December 5, 2021
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