PAS plays down Zahid’s absence at muktamar, says BN-PN cooperation intact

 Party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan says negotiations on working together at the Melaka polls will continue in the next few days.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan did not rule out the possibility that the Muslim unity agenda could eventually involve parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

KOTA BHARU:

PAS has played down speculation that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s absence from its muktamar yesterday reflected a breakdown in Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional cooperation ahead of the Melaka election.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said negotiations between the two coalitions were still going on.

“Not at all (speculation of a breakdown). Absolutely not. I can confirm this because I am among those directly involved.

“Our negotiations will continue, perhaps over the next day or two,” he said.

Takiyuddin had said yesterday that Zahid could not attend the opening of the PAS muktamar because of “unavoidable reasons”.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki led a group of party leaders instead, which remains noteworthy as the last time Umno representatives attended PAS’s annual meeting was in 2019.

At a press conference after the 72nd PAS muktamar here today, Takiyuddin said efforts to strengthen Muslim unity would continue through discussions among PAS, Umno and other parties in PN.

He did not rule out the possibility that the agenda would eventually involve parties from Sabah and Sarawak, including those in Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

“Of course, this will involve Sabah and Sarawak. It is just that the time has not yet come for us to discuss it there, but that is the direction we are heading in,” he said. - FMT