Zahid eyeing PM post, PAS seeking return to govt, says Puad

 Puad Zarkashi says Umno and PAS are able to join forces again despite the breakdown of their past alliance as both parties have short-term goals in mind.

Former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was setting himself up as a ‘prime minister in waiting’.

PETALING JAYA:

A former Umno leader claims that Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is setting himself up as a “prime minister in waiting”, with Umno rekindling ties with PAS.

Former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said Umno and PAS were willing to join forces again despite the breakdown of their past Muafakat Nasional pact because both parties had short-term goals in mind.

“Zahid wants to be prime minister and PAS wants to return to the federal government,” he said in a Facebook post.

BN was among the key coalitions that backed PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister after the 2022 general election resulted in a hung Parliament.

Yesterday, BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan said the coalition would form an alliance with other “trusted partners” in the Negeri Sembilan state election.

He did not disclose the specific parties, but PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang previously said the Islamic party was in discussions with BN for the state polls.

Earlier today, Perikatan Nasional chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed giving the green light for talks with BN on an electoral pact for the Aug 1 state polls.

On the other hand, PN component Bersatu has decided to contest under its own logo, unhappy with PAS’s decision to reach a pact with BN.

‘Trusted partner? Tok Mat said PAS was disloyal’

Puad said it was without a doubt that Mohamad’s announcement last night about reaching a pact with a “trusted partner” was a reference to PAS.

However, the former Rengit assemblyman pointed out that the Umno deputy president labelled the Islamic party as disloyal and insincere in 2023.

On Bersatu’s decision to contest under its own banner, Puad said the party should go all out against PAS since it would likely face another wipeout in Negeri Sembilan.

“Bersatu would be better off fielding candidates in every seat PAS contests. Let the two parties battle it out. Bersatu can then reveal PAS’s unIslamic behaviour towards its allies.”

Having already clashed in the Johor polls, BN and Pakatan Harapan are set to clash again in the Negeri Sembilan state election despite both coalitions being allies in the federal government. - FMT