Pact with PAS doesn’t have to be called MN, says Akmal

 The Umno Youth chief says efforts to unite Malay political parties can continue under a different platform after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ruled out reviving Muafakat Nasional.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh said the name of the platform used to achieve Malay political unity matters less compared with the shared purpose and vision. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has hinted at his party reviving its cooperation with PAS under a different pact, instead of their defunct Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance.

While Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier ruled out reviving MN, Akmal said efforts to establish Malay-Muslim political unity could take place under a different platform.

“Unity can be achieved through a platform using any name. All the more when the name ‘Muafakat Nasional’ has already been registered by others as an NGO.

“The name isn’t important, what’s more important is reaching an understanding, and common purpose or direction in uniting Malay-Muslims,” he said in a Facebook post.

The MN alliance between Umno and PAS was formalised in 2019 when Pakatan Harapan led the federal government. The pact collapsed after PAS formed Perikatan Nasional with Bersatu the following year.

Speculation over a possible revival of the pact has surfaced again now that PAS has severed political ties with Bersatu.

However, earlier today, Zahid said Umno had no intention of reviving the MN pact, “whether it is MN 1.0 or 2.0”, as the party has “closed the book on it”.

MN is also the name of an NGO registered by PAS central committee member Annuar Musa shortly after his sacking from Umno in December 2022. - FMT