In tit for tat, PAS says won’t work with Umno led by Zahid

 

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (left) said all Malaysians know that it was Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who lied about his party not wanting to work with Anwar Ibrahim and DAP.

PETALING JAYA: The second most senior leader in PAS has brushed off Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s declaration that Umno will not work with PAS as long as Abdul Hadi Awang remains the Islamic party’s president.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man retorted that the party would not want to collaborate with Umno so long as Zahid is the president, due to his dishonesty.

Tuan Ibrahim said Zahid had repeatedly stated that Umno would not work with DAP or Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim, before the unity government was formed.

“PAS, too, will not work with (Umno) as long as he’s their president,” he told FMT.

He also said PAS believed Perikatan Nasional was strong enough on its own to convince Malaysians and become their party of choice in the future.

“The Sungai Bakap by-election result serves as a yardstick to measure the level of the public’s support and acceptance of PN,” he said.

Earlier today, Zahid said Umno will not work with PAS as long as Hadi remains its president, citing his “past experience” working with the PN component.

He claimed the two parties had made “joint agreements” which Hadi’s party did not follow, and also accused PAS of exploiting Islam.

Before the 15th general election, Zahid said Umno would not work with Anwar, DAP or Bersatu during the polls, making his “no Bersatu, no Anwar, no DAP” declaration at his party’s annual general assembly in 2021.

However, after GE15, he led Barisan Nasional to be part of the unity government with PH, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

Tuan Ibrahim said Umno’s decline was also evident in its need to give away seats it previously contested to DAP and PKR, citing the Sungai Bakap, Kuala Kubu Baharu and Ketari seats as examples.

“Clearly, Umno is weakening due to its current leadership,” he said.

Umno had held the Sungai Bakap seat for one term from 2004 to 2008. It was previously held by Gerakan, though Umno did contest the seat for BN in the following elections.

Before the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in May, Zahid said Umno would make way for DAP despite the number of Malay voters there increasing to over 50%.

The seat had been contested by fellow BN component MCA since 1976.

Earlier today, Bentong Umno called for BN to be allowed to contest the Ketari state seat in the 16th general election.

Its acting chief, Zaini Salleh, said a formal request will be made since Ketari is a Malay majority area. The seat was previously held by Gerakan until 2013, while Umno first contested in Ketari in GE15. - FMT