KUALA LUMPUR – Pressmen and PAS’ Unit Amal members almost came to blows at the Umno General Assembly 2020 today as Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was being escorted out of the meeting.
The Islamist party’s president and his deputy, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, made a beeline for the exit at the conclusion of the Umno president’s speech at PWTC here.
Hadi ignored waiting journalists’ requests for his comment on Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s address, indirectly calling into question PAS’ loyalty to Umno.
Members of PAS volunteer corps Unit Amal shoved reporters aside to let their leader pass.
A minor scuffle broke out, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Footage captured by The Vibes showed a cameraman falling to the floor after being pushed by a Unit Amal member.
This was followed by a shouting match between photographers and the PAS unit.
The situation became heated as members of the press jostled with security officers to obtain comment from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. pic.twitter.com/gAu1CGqQRB
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) March 28, 2021
Zahid, in his address, said Umno’s decision not to work with Bersatu in the 15th general election is “final”.
The statement puts PAS in an awkward position, as the party, like Umno, is part of the Perikatan Nasional government.
Umno and Bersatu have been at loggerheads in recent months over the former being relegated to playing second fiddle in the administration.
PAS is in a political cooperation with both parties, and entered into the Muafakat Nasional alliance with the Barisan Nasional lynchpin last year.
Its fence-sitting amid the stand-off between Umno and Bersatu appears to indicate why Hadi avoided speaking to reporters today. – The Vibes, March 28, 2021
