PAS has joined Perikatan Nasional and is a joint sponsor of the pact that ousted Pakatan Harapan from Putrajaya, said Takiyuddin Hassan.

The party secretary-general, however, is unsure whether Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno has signed up to be a PN member.

“PAS is there, Bersatu, too, (is joining PN). As for BN, you have to ask BN, I’m not sure.

“The pro-tem committee can comprise anyone. After it is formed, anyone can join,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today.

It was reported that Bersatu vice-president Abdul Rashid Asari said PN submitted a registration application to the Registrar of Societies early this month.

The Malaysian Insight is made to understand that the application was approved last week, and the PN leadership will make an announcement soon.

On July 30, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will not join PN if the coalition gets registered, but will support it at the federal and state levels.

“Umno has decided to strengthen Muafakat Nasional with PAS and BN.”

Besides Umno, BN counts MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah as its members.

Takiyuddin said the presidents of both PAS and Umno have invited Bersatu to join MN.

The Kota Baru MP said opposition among some grassroots members to the move should not be an issue as the decision was made by the parties’ top leaders.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan previously said there are members opposed to Bersatu joining MN.

On Saturday, Prime Minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the party will be part of MN, cementing the three Malay-Muslim outfits’ position as the backbone of the government. – August 19, 2020.