Hadi: We're family now, Umno may be brought into PAS-led gov'ts

Now that the political cooperation between Umno and PAS has been formalised, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang indicated that the Islamist party may bring Umno on board their Kelantan and Terengganu governments.

However, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said other issues such as electoral seat negotiations are still up in the air.

"That will have to wait till we come to it, we will see the future development.

"There are definitely plans, (Umno) is in our family," Hadi said during a press conference after Umno and PAS signed the joint charter at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) today.

He was responding to a question from a reporter on whether PAS planned to include Umno in their Kelantan and Terengganu governments now that their cooperation has been formalised.

The Perhimpunan Penyatuan Ummah was held at the PWTC, Umno's headquarters over the past two days and the joint charter between Umno and PAS were signed this afternoon.

Over 25,000 people were in attendance at the PWTC today, packing the building to the brim and causing difficulty in walking around.

The crowd also spilt outside the building where screens and speakers were also set up for those in attendance to listen to the speeches and watch the signing of the charter.

Meanwhile, Zahid said it is "premature" to talk about electoral seat negotiations at this point of their cooperation.

"It is too early, it is premature for us to discuss the details (of electoral seat negotiations)," he said.

Hadi added that it is important that they work together to attract the rakyat first.

On whether Umno's fellow BN component parties MCA and MIC would be agreeable to this new cooperation, Zahid said there were no objections from the two parties so far, but it would be formalised in the next BN supreme council meeting.

MCA and MIC have sent their representatives to attend the Perhimpunan Penyatuan Ummah over the past two days.

The formalisation of Umno and PAS' cooperation is a historic milestone as it marks the first time the two bitter enemies are working together since the 1970s.

Hadi said he felt happy to speak at the PWTC today as he was only used to speaking to a PAS crowd but today, he has the chance to speak to a crowd of not only PAS but Umno supporters.

When asked whether the highly respected late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would be happy with the Umno-PAS cooperation today, Hadi said the former PAS spiritual leader would be happy.

"Taawun (Cooperation) is a phrase that was discussed with Nik Aziz back when he was alive because our cooperation in the 1970s was tahalluf (coalition).

"We need to introduce this new approach which is cooperation. That was what was discussed in the ulama syura when Nik Aziz was still alive," Hadi said.

While Nik Aziz was alive, he was one of the PAS leaders who was seen to be highly critical of Umno. - Mkini