PAS-Umno ties ‘beyond repair’ after coup talk, says analyst

 

Umno and PAS formed the Muafakat Nasional pact in September 2019.

PETALING JAYA: Allegations of a plot to topple Umno leaders have damaged ties between the party and PAS “beyond repair”, according to political scientist Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.

Fauzi, a professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the alleged plot highlights the deep mistrust between Umno and its rivals PAS and Bersatu.

While there is no love lost between Umno and Bersatu, ties with PAS had been strained since Umno withdrew support for Muhyiddin Yassin’s government in August 2021.

PAS and Bersatu, Muhyiddin’s party, are allies in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, while PAS and Umno are nominal allies in Muafakat Nasional.

However, Umno and PAS candidates clashed in the recent state elections in Melaka and Johor, a clear signal that PAS was putting Perikatan Nasional ahead of the Muafakat Nasional.

Fauzi said the departure of former central committee member Khairuddin Aman Razali from PAS had a lot to do with his pro-MN stance, despite PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang clearly showing a preference for PN.

“So, it isn’t that surprising if there indeed exists a PAS-Bersatu plot to outflank Umno and reclaim the prime minister’s post before the next general election,” he said. “The plotters, if they exist, will see the move as saving PN from probable humiliation and even oblivion come GE15.”

The allegations of a plot arose from leaked documents purportedly the minutes of meetings involving PAS leaders and several prominent figures from Bersatu as well as Umno.

The minutes tell of a plan to expedite the sentences of top Umno leaders who are either on trial or have been convicted on charges such as criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering.

Several PAS leaders have since denied allegations of a plot, saying the documents were an attempt to damage the party’s relationship with Umno.

However, Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said he believes Umno and PAS ties are not beyond repair, though electoral cooperation for GE15 was “out of the question” at this time.

“One thing is for sure, the leaked documents definitely aggravated the situation,” he said. - FMT