KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has informed Perikatan Nasional (PN) that its talks with Umno regarding the upcoming 15th general election (GE15) were off the record and did not involve leaders from either party.
In a statement, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the coalition’s supreme council meeting today took note of PAS’ explanation on the matter, which clarified that there were no official negotiations between the two parties.
“The discussions (between PAS and Umno) were unofficial and did not involve party leaders,” he said, adding that no progress was subsequently achieved as Umno decided to not cooperate with PAS for GE15.
He said that PAS also reiterated its stand to strengthen ties with PN component parties.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin had said that PN would be seeking clarification from PAS on claims that a secret negotiation was held between the Islamist party and Umno on the need for collaboration to face Pakatan Harapan (PH) in GE15.
The call followed a statement by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin alleging that there were private talks involving certain leaders from PAS and Umno on the possibility of preventing multi-cornered challenges between them and PH in the looming national polls.
Hashim said PAS wanted Umno to know that the main opposition during GE15 will be PH and not Bersatu.
Muhyiddin is president of Bersatu, a fellow component in PN and a political rival of Umno.
Besides that, Muhyiddin said today that the PN supreme council had decided to focus on efforts to defend the wellbeing of the people, especially those from lower income groups who are affected by rising inflation levels and “an economic situation that is not expected to improve.”
“To lighten the load shouldered by this group of people, PN has ordered party machineries to carry out the Prihatin Rakyat programme to channel aid to those in need throughout the country,” he said. – The Vibes, September 8, 2022
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