Umno and PAS hold joint presser, call for asset declaration

SERI SETIA POLLS | Umno and PAS today took another step towards closer ties by jointly holding a press conference to urge candidates for the Seri Setia by-election to declare their assets publicly.

This followed a meeting between the Selangor chapters of both parties today.

Selangor PAS elections director Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said PAS’ candidate Dr Halimah Ali will declare her assets soon.

“We hope the Harapan candidate can do the same, unless his assets are too much and will take weeks to compile,” he said during the event at PAS’ by-election headquarters in Shah Alam.

The meeting was attended by Selangor Umno chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Selangor PAS chief Sallehin Mukhyi, Selangor Umno deputy chief Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan and several other key party leaders.

Halimah, who was at the press conference as well, said she had declared her assets in the past when she was part of the Selangor cabinet, and her records were still available online.

“The official car that I used when I was an exco member was auctioned off. I am using it now. It is 10 years old. That is the only new asset that I have,” she said, adding that she was willing to declare her assets again.

She hoped that her opponent Halimey Abu Bakar would do the same in view that PKR was a party which claimed to espouse integrity and reforms.

Umno might join PAS muktamar

Meanwhile, Ismail said both parties were exploring the possibility of sending representatives to their respective annual delegates meeting, which are both happening this month.

“If Umno is invited to PAS’ muktamar, we will attend. I am told by the PAS deputy president (Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man) that if PAS is invited to the Umno annual delegates meeting, they will attend as well.

“I want to announce that Umno will invite PAS. I expect PAS to do the same,” he said.

He said the future direction for Umno and PAS’ collaboration would be discussed during Umno’s annual delegates meeting, which is scheduled for Sept 29 and 30.

Last Saturday, Tuan Ibrahim said PAS will consider sending observers to the Umno annual delegates meeting but that the party has not received any official invitation to do so.

PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan had previously said that the party is expected to discuss the issue of cooperating with Umno at its muktamar, which will begin on Sept 13. -Mkini