KUALA LUMPUR – The leaked audio of an alleged conversation between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi signals a new political realignment for Umno, said PAS.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told a press conference aired on his Facebook page today that his party will reject outright any new political shift by Umno.
“That’s part of (their) new realignment. The realignment was announced, this signals it,” said Hadi on the audio leak, the authenticity of which has been denied by both Anwar and Zahid.
“We will continue cooperating with Perikatan Nasional (PN). We are not with the new realignment. We reject it. We won’t accept (cooperating with Umno in the new realignment). We agreed with Muafakat Nasional (MN) that involves more than just Umno.
“It involves Bersatu and all Malay Muslims and the Bumiputera community. The PN level addresses the other communities.”
However, the Marang MP admitted that he is unsure whether or not the audio is fake.
Meanwhile, Hadi said that the Islamist party is in the midst of discussing seat allocations for the general election with Bersatu but has left Umno in the cold – at least until its internal leadership issues have been sorted out.
Lately, there have been calls from various quarters in Umno for Zahid to step down.
Hadi also said Umno seems split into two groups – a pro-Bersatu camp led by Tan Sri Annuar Musa and those with ministerial positions and an anti-Bersatu faction under Zahid.
There are also minor factions within the major blocs backing their respective leaders.
On Umno’s rejection of cooperating with PAS and Bersatu, Hadi said PAS will monitor the situation, seeing how fractured Umno has become.
“We still call for the unity of the ummah – Muslims and the other communities. This Islamic unity is not just about Umno and PAS but includes Bersatu. That’s the basic principle that we all agreed upon.
“The problem is that Umno’s leadership is not following it. It’s their right. We are made to understand that not all Umno members are like that. We already had a sitting committee but Umno changed it midway.
“Until Umno resolves its internal problems, we will only discuss seat allocations with Bersatu.” – The Vibes, April 9, 2021
