BERSATU and PAS today warned Umno that their support for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government is conditional.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who held a joint press conference after a meeting today, said Umno should “respect” the backing both parties are giving to Ismail.

“PAS and Bersatu’s support in the federal government is conditional. It needs to be respected, and premised on the values of integrity, anti-corruption and benevolence,” they said after their meeting in Glenmarie, Shah Alam today.

Ismail, who is Umno vice-president, became prime minister in August last year after the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Muhyiddin lost its majority.

At the time, Muhyiddin said PN’s support for Ismail was on condition he did not appoint ministers facing court cases, as a number of Umno leaders are facing graft trials, while its former president Najib Razak has been convicted in one corruption case.

Bersatu and PAS have 49 MPs between then, while Umno has 38.

Muhyiddin today said that Bersatu and PAS regretted the political games certain parties played, which threatened political stability and the people’s welfare. – January 29, 2022.