Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki is convinced that the Umno-PAS pact for the 15th general election is still on despite his party colleague suggesting that PAS may ditch Umno if Bersatu is not included in the pact.
Asyraf went on to claim that Malaysiakini's report of BN secretary-general Annuar Musa's comment - suggesting that PAS may not cooperate with Umno if it didn't include Bersatu - was "inaccurate" even though Annuar himself did not dispute his own reported comments.
"What Malaysiakini claimed and reported is inaccurate because the main Muafakat Nasional negotiations committee had last Wednesday agreed to register Muafakat Nasional with Umno and PAS as the two core parties representing bumiputera-Malays-Muslims.
"The question of PAS giving an ultimatum (kata dua) that it won't cooperate with Umno does not arise," he said.
However, Annuar later responded to Asyraf's comments on social media, suggesting that he read between the lines.
"Where did the ultimatum come from? In politics, there needs to be more depth. Listen to my comments carefully.
"When the PAS secretary-general made a press release asking that Umno explain its leadership confirming Umno MPs are supporting (PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim, what is the message?" he said.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had on Sept 23 claimed many Umno MPs are supporting Anwar, who is trying to form a new coalition to oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
This prompted PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan to say if this was true, it could be seen as an attempt to bring down the PN government.
He added in the Sept 25 that Umno would be breaking the Muafakat charter and asked that Umno explain its position.
On the same day, Asyraf responded by saying that PAS too should explain why PAS formally joined PN as a component party when Umno has refused to do so.
The PN government is composed of BN, Bersatu, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star, but not all are formal members of the coalition.
Umno has been pressuring Muhyiddin to provide more concessions to the party, but the antics have not impressed PAS which is seen to be drifting towards Muhyiddin's Bersatu.
The PN government came to power after the Harapan government collapsed in late February.
Prior to the formation of PN, Umno and PAS had been working to form a coalition under Muafakat for the 15th general election.
However, the political earthquake in February has led to a series of political realignments. - Mkini
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