THE cooperation charter which Umno inked with PAS last month was in the works for 21 years, said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said, he first raised the subject during a speech in 1998 at Darul Syifa, the treatment centre founded by former PAS spiritual advisor, the late Haron Din.

“It wasn’t easy for them to accept us then.  

“I am fortunate to have known PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for a long time (to make it happen),” he told delegates at the Selangor Umno convention in Shah Alam today.

Zahid said his good relationship developed over the years with Hadi had also helped in forming the charter with the Islamist party.

He recalled an incident where Hadi, along with nine other PAS leaders, were “stuck” in a hotel in Saudi Arabia for five days due to an undisclosed reason during a pilgrimage to Mecca.

“Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was the prime minister then. He appealed to our embassy but failed.”

Zahid, who was also performing the haj then, said he then instructed a driver working for Tabung Haji to “rescue” the PAS leaders.

He said events like this had gone a long way to build the ties between the two leaders and their parties.

Zahid said cooperation between the two parties had begun to take off when PAS stood aside in the Sg Kandis by-election to give Umno a chance to contest against Pakatan Harapan.

“Don’t think if we do something today we will immediately get something in return. 

“During the Sg Kandis by-election, PAS doubted us. I went to Marang to meet with the PAS president.

“He generously offered Umno’s Lokman Nor Adam a chance.

“In Cameron Highlands, they continued to work with us. When we settled our differences with our old political enemy PAS, we can achieve victory,” he said.

The Bagan Datuk MP also wants the Selangor Umno convention to devise a strategy to recapture Selangor after 11 years in the opposition.

“It is difficult, but not impossible to overcome. The same goes for the MP post. We only have one seat but it is impossible for the number of seats to not increase as in previous elections,” he said.

Zahid added that Umno needs to give the people new hope and offer them a good government which would be formed if they win the 15th general election.

“When we have no money we make no money.  For 11 years we have suffered… InshaAllah in GE15 we will take Selangor back.” – October 19, 2019.