PAS ‘still open’ to working with Umno in GE15

PAS is still willing to cooperate with Umno under Muafakat Nasional (MN) in facing the 15th general election (GE15), its vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said today.

Amar also said that PAS was prepared to work with any party that championed the Malay and Islamic agenda, in line with PAS’ struggle.

Amar, who is Kelantan deputy menteri besar, said PAS’ openness in this matter was aimed at protecting the interests of the ummah and preventing Pakatan Harapan (PH) from returning to power.

“Now, PAS is still open to working with Umno. If Umno can review its earlier stand and return to cooperating with PAS, we are always ready.

“In fact, when Ismail Sabri Yaakob became prime minister, we did not withdraw our support. If we wanted to betray Umno, we would have retracted our support then,” he told reporters in Kota Bharu.

He was commenting on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that Umno could forget about cooperating with PAS through MN in GE15.

In Alor Setar, PAS central election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the party was sticking to its decision to strengthen MN and Perikatan Nasional which was made by the top leadership and Syura Council.

“Challenges come from various corners and the panacea is to strengthen unity and cooperation among Muslims,” he told reporters after chairing a state executive council meeting today.