The eventual signing of the Umno-PAS Muafakat Nasional cooperation charter on Sept 14 is the result of a 21-year process that also involved a rescue mission, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed today.
Underscoring efforts toward bringing together the two parties, Zahid (photo) recalled how he first broached the subject during a speech in 1998 at Darul Syifa, an Islamic treatment centre founded by former PAS spiritual advisor the late Haron Din.
"It has not been easy for them to accept us," Zahid reminded leaders and members present today at Selangor Umno's annual convention in Shah Alam.
"I am lucky because I have known PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for a long time," said Zahid, who urged Selangor Umno members to set aside their differences with PAS and work towards recapturing the state after 11 years of Harapan rule.
In highlighting his ties with Abdul Hadi, Zahid further recalled how he had instructed a driver working for Tabung Haji to "rescue" the Marang MP and nine other PAS leaders who for an undisclosed reason were stuck at a hotel in Jeddah while en route to perform the Hajj in Mecca.
"Pak Lah (Abdullah Badawi) was prime minister at the time. He appealed (for assistance) to our ambassador but failed.
"I don't have any powers...but who assisted me? Not the Hajj counsellor, not the ambassador, but a Tabung Haji driver," said Zahid, who was then Home Minister, and happened to be in Mecca to perform the Hajj.
More recently, Zahid said he personally visited Hadi at his home in Rusila, Terengganu, to negotiate for PAS to make way for Umno's candidate Lokman Noor Adam to be fielded in the Sungai Kandis by-election last year, the first in a series of nine by-elections held since GE14.
Lokman had lost against Harapan's Zawawi Mughni but Umno-PAS' subsequent cooperations had led to a series of successes which preceded the Muafakat Nasional pact.
Zahid told the Selangor Umno members today he recalled the incidents to not only highlight the long process of fostering ties with PAS and its positive outcome, but also as a reminder to not sideline individuals seen to have no power or influence.
'Umno should learn from PAS'
Zahid also reiterated his call for Umno to learn from PAS and change its ways in line with its federal opposition role.
Among others, he said Umno members at the convention today must discuss ways in which the party can meet the rakyat's spiritual demands, rather than focus only on physical projects and infrastructure.
Prior to the 14th general elections, Zahid pointed out that Selangor Umno through its former state liaison chief Noh Omar, who was also then federal Housing and Local Government Minister, continued to provide the rakyat with various amenities using federal allocations.
"But we still ended up with only five state seats," said Zahid, who stressed on Umno's need to make a new offer for the people fed-up with Harapan but similarly have no love for BN.
He also urged members to stop relying on their leaders for money to carry out programmes, as well to set aside any personal interests for the good of the party and people.
Also present today were the top Selangor Umno and central leaders including Umno Deputy Chief Mohamad Hasan, Information Chief Annuar Musa, Wanita Chief Noraini Ahmad, Youth Chief Ashraf Wajdi Dusuki and Selangor state liaison chief Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahalan. - Mkini
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