Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has refuted an article by online portal Suara.tv which claimed his party will not collaborate with PAS in the upcoming Malacca election.
However, he still did not answer whether the Muafakat Nasional pact - signed in 2019 between Umno and PAS - will hold at the state election.
The article was titled "Bukan sekadar Bersatu, kerjasama dengan PAS juga Umno tak ingin - Zahid" (Not only Bersatu, Umno is also not willing to work with PAS - Zahid).
The article was based on an interview with Zahid which was broadcasted on YouTube channel NRChannel TV on Oct 12.
In that interview, Zahid said the Muafakat pact is not a registered political party and he does not see a "cahaya terang" (bright light) for the pact, unlike previous by-elections.
Therefore, Umno will go "solo" under the BN banner, he said.
In a statement yesterday, Zahid explained that he did not use "coarse words" that would have justified such an article title by Suara.tv's interpretation.
"I don't understand why my words in the interview would be interpreted as having such arrogance.
"Even the photograph of me used in that article looked very bengis (fierce)," said Zahid.
He then transcribed his exact quotes used during the interview in reference to Muafakat Nasional, which he claims does not reflect any arrogance and only stated the facts.
"(As politicians) we must know how to trust each other and not betray one another. It's too much to be betrayed once. To betray repeatedly, not just to Umno, then we must review (that trust)," said Zahid.
When the interviewer asked him if Muafakat will make an appearance in the Malacca election, he did not provide a direct answer.
"Let Umno contest solo under the BN flag. God willing, the people will choose the best party," he said.
Last night, Umno's supreme council resolved that the party must mobilise for the Malacca elections. It made no mention of partners.
Currently, Umno leads the federal government and is supported by MPs from Perikatan Nasional - a coalition in which PAS is a formal member.
The Malacca state election was triggered after state assemblypersons withdrew their support for Sulaiman Md Ali to continue as chief minister on Oct 4.
Under the law, the Election Commission has until Dec 3 to hold an election.
However, the federal government is still mulling whether to block the election by calling for an emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini
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