Bersatu participation in Muafakat Nasional agreed to in principle - Annuar

Bersatu's participation in Muafakat Nasional (MN) has been agreed to in principle, said BN secretary-general Annuar Musa.

He said currently, the MN steering committee is working out the charter and memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PAS and Umno.

“We have offered Bersatu to join Muafakat Nasional. The wish has been conveyed by Umno president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to the Bersatu president.

“Then we were told by Muhyiddin that the Bersatu supreme council has discussed the matter and is ready to agree to accept the views of Muafakat Nasional,” he told reporters after handing over licences to traders at Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur today.

Annuar, who is Ketereh MP, said the oral agreement by Bersatu to join MN was brought to the MN steering committee meeting, which then decided to extend an official invitation to Bersatu this Thursday to join MN.

On the charter and MoU between PAS and Umno being prepared by the MN steering committee, he said the process should be carried out in stages.

MN is an alliance between PAS and Umno to unite the Malays, apart from forming a stable political core.

Meanwhile, in response to a question raised by Mukhriz Mahathir whether MN will appoint Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as its chairperson, Annuar said the three parties in the coalition would celebrate co-existence and there would be no struggle for the chairperson’s post.

“We no longer use the old political system. Now we have 'migrated' far ahead using politics termed as Ta'awun and Ta'yush politics.

“The concept of Ta'awun is from fighting to cooperating and Ta'ayush is respecting the principle of co-existence," he explained.

Annuar said Mukhriz’s political philosophy is out-dated by 20 years, compared with the new politics of MN.

“Follow the Muafakat Nasional model, tolerance, no problem. Seven by-elections, with all candidates from BN, no more candidates from PAS, but PAS still cooperate and that is the new model," he added.

He also said that although BN has the most seats, the alliance continued to support Muhyiddin as prime minister, which is in line with the new political model.

“If we follow the normal model, it has to be Umno (as the prime minister). When the time comes, perhaps tomorrow, Bersatu may give Umno the post of prime minister," he added.

- Bernama