ALOR STAR – The rift between Umno and PAS may see both sides abandon the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact despite claims that such a political cooperation can transform Malay-Muslim centric parties to be dominant in some seven states in the peninsula.
The latest rift has been over whether PAS had invited Umno to attend its 68th muktamar at the Kedah PAS complex in Kota Sarang Semut near here.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan raised his voice at a press briefing yesterday when he unequivocally said that Umno had rejected PAS’ invitation to attend the annual headlining event here.
“We invited them, and we even invited Kedah Umno but they did not answer,” he said.
State Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom responded swiftly last night, saying Takiyuddin’s claim was false.
The only dignitaries who attended besides foreign invitees were the leaders of the other pact PAS is part of – the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-chairman Datuk Dominic Lau were present. Muhyiddin is president of Bersatu and Lau president of Gerakan, both fellow components of PN.
Jamil Khir said he was disappointed that Takiyuddin had stooped to such a level, as no such invitation was received by the party in Kedah.
Earlier, Umno’s top two leaders – party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan – took turns to lambast PAS for going behind their backs to work with PN in view of the fact that Muhyiddin’s Bersatu is now considered Umno’s foe.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was quick to retort, citing that the current federal government line-up is dominated by PN, although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is Umno vice-president.
PAS had also remained silent when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, also a former Umno president – who cajoled PAS into joining MN – was imprisoned last week after the apex court upheld the conviction in his SRC International case.
Rumblings in the Kedah government as well?
Meanwhile in Kedah, PAS seemed intent on distancing itself from Umno, which has been part of the PAS-led state government since 2020.
Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, the political secretary to Kedah menteri besar and PAS elections director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, lambasted Kedah Umno a day before the muktamar officially began.
In a viralled statement first carried by PAS information organ Harakah Daily, Afnan Hamimi urged the electorate in Kedah to “membenam” (sink) Umno in the state because the latter had allegedly disrespected the Baling district officer.
Despite this, the PAS ulama – the driver of the Islamist political struggle –underlined the priority of seeking unity among the “ummah” (Muslim congregation) ahead of the looming 15th general election, which many here believe will be held by the year’s end.
Insiders when interviewed had acknowledged that it would be easier for PAS to win seats under the MN coalition rather than relying on PN to deliver as the main two parties of the latter – Bersatu and Gerakan – have yet to gain any momentum.
“The significant losses in the Melaka and Johor elections are examples,” said one insider.
Bersatu is a shadow of its former self after members aligned with party co-founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister, left the party to form Pejuang.
Meanwhile, Gerakan has yet to regain its past glory as the kingpin of Penang, which it had ruled from 1969 to 2008. – The Vibes, September 4, 2022
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