Don’t challenge Umno in 27 ‘critical’ seats, PAS tells Bersatu

 

Zuhdi Marsuki said Bersatu declaring war on Umno was one of the reasons why talks between PAS and Umno had failed. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A PAS leader has called for Bersatu not to challenge Umno in 27 “critical” parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election (GE15).

PAS central committee member Zuhdi Marzuki said this was to ensure the seats do not fall to Pakatan Harapan (PH) following the decision by both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to part ways for GE15.

“Even though PAS has decided to stick with PN, there is still room (for cooperation with Umno) during GE15 if there are no seat clashes.

“We have been informed of this matter and so has Bersatu. PAS will endeavour to ensure there are no clashes with Umno for those 27 seats,” he told FMT.

In GE14, PH won 20 of the 27 seats with PAS and BN taking up the bulk of the remaining votes, while the other seven seats were won by either BN or PAS but only with a slim majority.

Zuhdi previously suggested for the 27 seats to be dubbed “Muafakat Nasional (MN) seats” in the spirit of the Muslim unity agenda that was previously pursued by both Umno and the Islamic party.

He also warned that should there be no cooperation between PN and BN in GE15, there is a real possibility that PH would win big due to the split in Malay votes.

“Without cooperation, PH may score a bigger win than in the last general election because previously Malay votes were split in half, but now there are more contenders – BN, PN and Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA),” he said, referring to the new coalition led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his party Pejuang.

Asked what stood in the way of unity between PAS and Umno, Zuhdi admitted that there were challenges faced by both parties’ leadership, besides the fact that Bersatu had declared war on Umno.

On Sept 24, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying that BN would be PN’s main enemy in GE15 and that PN need not be afraid about facing off against the coalition.

On Oct 4, Umno issued PAS an ultimatum, telling the Islamic party that it has to choose between them and PN, in facing GE15.

Its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said PAS would have to sever ties with PN if it wanted to work with Umno.

On Thursday, PAS decided to stick with PN following a three-hour meeting at its headquarters to determine whether it will stand by PN or cooperate with Umno in GE15. - FMT