KUALA LUMPUR – Is Umno and PAS’ fractious relationship officially over?
This appears to be the indication given by Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) information chief Isham Jalil, as the two parties continue to lock horns.
In a Facebook post today, Isham, who is also Umno strategy adviser, lambasted the Islamist party after several of its leaders accused Umno of betraying Muafakat Nasional (MN).
Instead, he pointed the finger back at PAS, saying the political outfit was the one that betrayed the pact after it opted to jump in bed with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“They are the ones who registered PN with Bersatu, the very party that betrayed the people’s mandate and Umno’s.
“The registration took place just months after PAS signed the MN charter with Umno,” he said.
“PAS’ action can be seen as an attempt to force Umno to accept Bersatu and join PN, if we wanted to work together with them.
“That was why they were rushing to register PN after the Sheraton Move.
“This was when several PAS leaders were appointed ministers by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, although they knew that Umno’s grassroots can never accept the Umno traitors who have jumped to Bersatu.”
Isham likened Umno’s relationship with PAS to two individuals who have gotten engaged, with one party then cheating on the other.
“If you are engaged to someone, and your fiancé got engaged to another person, then he is the one who is considered a traitor.
“When this happens, the first engagement is automatically called off.”
Isham was responding to the latest statement issued by PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin, who said his party is currently considering severing all ties with Umno due to the betrayal of the latter.
The Dewan Negara senator had warned that his party’s patience has limits, and that it would not hesitate to part ways if it is established that the marriage of convenience with Umno has affected Muslim unity.
This follows PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s remark last Friday, accusing Umno of being a lame duck and ungrateful after the BN lynchpin refused to forge an electoral pact.
Isham said PAS leaders must have been confused, as the true traitors are those who left Umno for Bersatu, the party PAS is now working with.
He went on to reveal that PAS had also demanded a large number of seats to contest in Melaka recently, despite the Islamist outfit not winning a single contest in the state in the last election.
“When they rejected the seats we offered to them, there were rumours that a number of their leaders wanted to ‘teach’ Umno a lesson in Melaka.
“Now, they want to teach us in Johor too, apparently. Is this the muafakat spirit PAS is harbouring?” – The Vibes, February 2, 2022
