'Ignore growing Umno-PAS ties, just continue serving the rakyat'

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has advised Pakatan Harapan to ignore the growing camaraderie between Umno and PAS, and to focus instead on serving the rakyat.

"We (Harapan) respect the relationship between PAS and Umno, but what is important is for the rakyat to see that Harapan is continuing to serve them.

"Let them (Umno and PAS) do what they want, but for us, serving the people is our foundation," he told reporters during a press conference in Semenyih today.

The Bersatu Youth chief said this when asked to comment on the burgeoning relationship between former rivals Umno and PAS.

Umno and other BN parties have worked closely with PAS in several by-elections, most recently in BN's successful retention of the Cameron Highlands seat.

All parties are gearing up for yet another by-election, with polls for the Semenyih state seat slated for March 2.

United front

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, meanwhile, said that the Umno-PAS cooperation could be thwarted by a united Harapan front.

He pointed out that although BN and PAS assisted each other for the Balakong and Sungai Kandis polls, both contests were eventually won by Harapan.

"I am confident if we are united and cooperating with each other, the people will continue to give us the mandate as we obtained earlier," the Selangor PKR chief was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

As much as Harapan will be buoyed by the positive vibes from its administration in Selangor, Amirudin stressed that it must continue to work hard for a win in Semenyih.

"Nonetheless, it does not mean we can take it easy, we should continue to work hard to repel various allegations and defamations against the state and federal governments." - Mkini