AS Umno and PAS inch closer to a political union, the main focus of leaders of the country’s two largest Malay-Muslim parties is to make grassroots members understand that they are now cooperating.

The two parties have organised a number of joint awareness programmes to build cohesion and strengthen their relationship ahead of the September 14 signing of the cooperation agreement.

Kelantan Umno Youth chief Noor Hariri Mohd Noor said in the state, the programmes were mostly ceramah “as there are some members who are still sceptical of the Umno and PAS cooperation”.

“There has been talk that PAS will pull out of the union and Umno is looking for a lifeline.

“That’s why we have taken PAS on board to reach out to our members. We also have MCA and the MIC on board because we also want to make it clear that this unity will cover all Malaysians,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

In two weeks, a ceremony at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur will see Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ink an agreement that sets the terms of the cooperation.

Hariri said the union will bridge the decades-old religious split prevalent in the Malay heartland. In extreme cases, Umno and PAS supporters have been reported to pray in separate surau.

Since PAS was booted out of the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition, the relationship between Umno and PAS is not as strained as before, he said.

Kuala Selangor PAS Youth chief Azril Hairi Ahmad said it would not be much trouble to explain to party members about the cooperation as they have placed their faith in the leadership.

Solidarity with Umno is growing through joint programmes and activities, Azril said.

“We have held several programmes together with Umno – like futsal tournaments, watching football matches together – to forge friendships and strengthen cooperation.

“The response from the members is very encouraging.

“Apart from the joint programmes, we have also established the ummah unity secretariat at the youth level. Through this secretariat we plan programmes and strategies together,” he said.

Azril said Terengganu is an exception, as no effort has been made by the two parties’ state chapter to cooperate.

Terengganu Umno Youth chief Tengku Haphiz Tengku Putera said they will wait for the formalities to be inked on September before discussing their programmes.

“In Terengganu, we do not have joint programmes with PAS, unlike in other states, but we would invite them to attend our programme and they would do the same.

“Once there is an agreement, we will formally form a technical committee and move on.”

Haphiz didn’t rule out the possibility that this was because Umno and PAS are the dominant parties in Terenganu and that the state administration only changed hands among them.

“Umno and PAS are the dominant parties in Terengganu. Although there is no official cooperation, we are not fighting.”

The cooperation between Umno and PAS is aimed at regaining and strengthening their Malay bases to defeat Pakatan Harapan in the next elections. – September 3, 2019.