SG SIPUT – Umno is optimistic that PAS will not end their cooperation under the Muafakat Nasional banner, based on the ties that have been established at the leadership and grassroots levels.
The Barisan Nasional lynchpin’s information chief, Shahril Hamdan, said it also views the statements by the Islamist party’s top leaders recently as an intention to further improve cooperation.
“I’m taking the most positive interpretation, namely from the PAS president and deputy president’s statements, which stressed that they still want to protect and strengthen MN.
“For me, that is a signal that whatever stand they have on Bersatu with regard to Perikatan Nasional, they have no intention to split with Umno,” he told a press conference here last night.
Two days ago, PAS’ Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party rejects any form of cooperation that is divisive and deviates from the original MN set-up, as well as groups that are disloyal to the country and hold extreme views challenging race and religion.
Shahril urged leaders and members of both Umno and PAS not to issue statements that could strain the two parties’ relationship. – Bernama, April 4, 2021
