KUALA LUMPUR – PAS is still awaiting the Umno Supreme Council’s decision on their political cooperation under Muafakat Nasional (MN), said PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad.
He insisted that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s desire for his party to contest solo in the Melaka election should not be accepted as an official decision.
“As of now, the Umno Supreme Council has not said such a thing. Therefore, we will only depend on the official decision. Don’t divide us,” he said today when met by press members after attending a Maulidur Rasul celebration in the capital today.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said his party’s main focus now is to ensure that Pakatan Harapan does not return to power in the state.
The MN political alliance between Umno and PAS was formed in September 2019.
Last Tuesday, Zahid raised questions over the Umno-PAS cooperation under MN as the Melaka election looms.
In an online talk show with NR Channel TV, the Bagan Datuk MP said he does not see light at the end of the tunnel for MN to be realised as the pact was never registered as a political entity with the Registrar of Societies.
“Let Umno contest solo under the Barisan Nasional flag and, God willing, the people will choose the best party,” he said on the PRU15 – Membentuk Atau Mengikut Arus programme.
The former deputy prime minister also alluded to the fact that his party will reevaluate the cooperation as it has been “repeatedly betrayed” by the Islamist party.
“I have never been disappointed as a politician but we have to know that, when we share, especially in MN, we have to trust and not betray each other.
“It is enough that the betrayal happened once, but if it is done repeatedly, not to Umno but to various parties, I think it should be reevaluated,” he said.
Last Thursday night, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan told a press conference at Menara Dato Onn that the Supreme Council will have another meeting to decide on the party’s cooperation with PAS under the MN banner and with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional. – The Vibes, October 19, 2021
