PAS-Bersatu pact akin to ‘last rites’ for MN, says Umno man

 

Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed says the Muafakat Nasional alliance between Umno and PAS is as good as dead. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An electoral pact between Bersatu and PAS for the Johor state elections is akin to the “last rites” being performed for the Muafakat Nasional alliance between PAS and Umno, reckons Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

Hopes of a reconciliation between Umno and PAS were “as good as over”, he said in the wake of the resolution by PAS and Bersatu to stand together against Umno in the Johor elections.

PAS and Bersatu had announced earlier today that they would contest the elections under the Perikatan Nasional banner.

The two main PN component parties issued a pledge with seven resolutions announcing their renewed vow to work together. The move also comes amid strained ties between PAS and Umno.

Nur Jazlan told FMT that “PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang himself has buried the MN for good with one of the resolutions emphasising that their support for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is conditional”.

The message was a subtle threat to withdraw support for Ismail’s government, which could fall if MPs of Bersatu or PAS decide to withdraw support in the Dewan Rakyat.

Ismail’s government commands 115 seats to the 104 held by the opposition. However, Bersatu and PAS contribute 50 of the 115 seats. Barisan Nasional holds 41 seats, with 21 seats held by East Malaysia parties who support the Ismail government.

Nur Jazlan said Umno was ready for any eventuality. “If they do this (withdraw support), a general election will have to be called. We are just tired of parties that switch allegiance at the whims and fancies of their leaders and leave the people in a lurch,” he said.

He said the recent exodus from Bersatu, of senior leaders returning to Umno’s fold, showed that members were losing confidence in the leadership of Muhyiddin Yassin.

As for PAS, he added, there was much dissatisfaction among grassroots members with the leadership of Hadi.

“In a way, I am thankful that PAS has decided to be with Bersatu again after its fling in Melaka which failed miserably. It’s definitely over for MN,” he said.

PAS was defeated in all 8 seats the party contested in the Melaka elections in November, while Bersatu won 2 seats out of 15 contested. Barisan Nasional secured a landslide victory, winning 21 of the 28 seats in the state assembly. - FMT