KUALA LUMPUR – PAS elections director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said his party is still willing to revive a political alliance with Umno through Muafakat Nasional (MN).
Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) elections director and caretaker Kedah menteri besar, said he is amenable to the idea of working together with the Barisan Nasional linchpin in the future “for the sake of uniting the ummah”.
He said it is “illogical” of Umno to demand PAS to break its ties with fellow PN component party Bersatu in order for MN to be revived.
“I have always told my friends (who are) Umno leaders to not attack us (PAS) too harshly, because one day we might be friends again, (as) I am open (to reviving MN),” he said.
Sanusi was speaking as a guest in the latest episode of Keluar Sekejap, hosted by former Umno leaders Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Sufian Hamdan.
“(The condition set by Umno) did not make sense, because MN’s foundation is to unite the ummah…it is not about unity between PAS and Umno, to my understanding.
“Whoever wants to be part of uniting the ummah should be welcomed to join MN, including Bersatu,” he added.
On Monday, The Vibes reported PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad as saying that PN has no quarrel with Umno and hopes to re-establish a political partnership in future general elections.
Zahid’s fault
Sanusi blamed Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for MN’s breakup.
The pact between the two former rival parties was sealed after BN lost federal power for the first time in the 2018 general election.
Accusing Zahid of orchestrating MN’s ruination, Sanusi claimed that Zahid had done so to pave the way for Umno to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Zahid is now deputy prime minister in the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is PH chairman.
“The basis for MN’s fall was (Zahid)...he was the one who made MN fall so that (Umno) could work together with (Anwar). He (Zahid) is the problem, not us (PAS),” he said.
“I don’t consider my friends in Umno to be my enemies now. They had to follow what their boss (Zahid) wanted.”
Leave Hadi
On September 14, 2019, Umno and PAS had signed the MN charter during the Ummah Unity Rally, with the cooperation aiming to unite the Muslim community under a single political pact.
However, PAS later officially joined the PN coalition along with Bersatu and Gerakan in August 2020, following the Sheraton Move in February of the same year.
Previously, Pasir Puteh Umno chief Datuk Zawawi Othman proposed that Umno should only consider rekindling its political alliance with PAS if the party is willing to turn its back on its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had issued remarks “insulting” Umno. – The Vibes, July 12, 2023
