KUALA LUMPUR – A recent meeting between PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno counterpart Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saw the former reprimanding the Islamist party for its “two-faced” political approach.
The meeting, which was held at a restaurant in Bangi, also failed to reach any conclusion on cooperation between the two parties, Malaysiakini reported today.
The snark on PAS having its hands in two honey pots is apparently a reference to how PAS had inked political cooperation dubbed Muafakat Nasional with Umno when both parties were in the opposition, before forming alliances with Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) when PN came into power.
“The meeting was to discuss strengthening works between PAS and Umno but they did not manage to reach an agreement,” Malaysiakini stated, quoting a source. It added that Zahid also voiced his grievances with PAS.
However, the source claimed that one outcome of the meeting was Umno ordering its “cybertroopers” to enact a ceasefire with PAS, for the time being, claiming that the move stems from PAS stating its desire to reinforce a working relationship with Umno.
The meeting also touched on the possibility of seats clashing with Bersatu during the upcoming 15th general election (GE15), the portal reported.
Last week, Zahid and Hadi reportedly met in a “secret meeting”, as reported by various media citing unnamed sources.
The meeting was held even though Zahid said earlier this month that it was time for Umno to move on without PAS.
Yesterday evening, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that PAS will remain steadfast in the PN coalition to face GE15, following a meeting with Hadi and several other PN leaders the previous night.
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said that Hadi had informed him of the latter’s meeting with Zahid, and that nothing had come out of it.
However, he added that Hadi had given him the impression during their meeting that PAS would be making a final decision on whether to work with PN or BN for the elections.
On September 24, Muhyiddin, in a speech at Bersatu’s sixth anniversary celebration, declared BN as PN’s main enemy.
The stance has since ostensibly been rejected by PAS. Its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan relayed a letter from the party’s spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasun instructing party members not to accept any view which labelled another Malay-Muslim group as an enemy. – The Vibes, September 28, 2022
