THE “love affair” between Umno and PAS looks serious, and Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub wants to know how deep is their love.

Salahuddin, who is also agriculture and agro-based industries minister, questions this as Umno, in its campaign for the Sungai Kandis by-election, continues to talk about working with the Islamist party.

“Leave them be if they want to work together. If Amanah talks about it, they’ll say there’s bad blood between us and PAS.

“But, their actions speak louder than words. The people can see it, too.

“PAS agreed not to field a candidate in the Sungai Kandis polls. It seems like they are working together.

“They look like they are getting serious in this ‘love affair’. I would like to ask them, ‘How deep is your love?’.”

The by-election will see a three-way battle between Lokman Noor Adam of Barisan Nasional lynchpin Umno, Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni of Pakatan Harapan’s PKR and independent candidate K. Murthy.

Recently, PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan was quoted as saying the party was giving way to Umno so as to not split the opposition votes, which would make it easier to defeat PH.

Despite the Islamist party repeatedly saying it is not helping Umno in the by-election, the BN party is seen to be courting it, with several Umno leaders having expressed interest in the two parties working together.

Lokman has said the Sungai Kandis polls could be the start of cooperation between PAS and Umno.

Asked what he thought of the narrative in Umno’s campaign, which includes PH’s alleged failure to deliver on its “100 days” promise and the decision to appoint non-Malay-Muslims to top government posts, Salahuddin said the claims are “unreasonable”.

“Is it reasonable that in less than three months of taking over the government, we are accused of being too liberal, and gambling away Islam?”

He said Umno will continue playing up racial and religious issues because the party depends on them.

“In the 14th general election, PH proved that unity is the solution that people want. This is why they supported PH.”

He said even though Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and Chief Justice Richard Malanjum are not Malay-Muslims, it does not mean they cannot deliver.

“There has never been a narrative since independence that non-Malays have destroyed the country.

“PH goes with integrity. Only time will tell whether Lim, Thomas and Malanjum will betray the nation, but first, they must be given the chance to deliver on the promised reforms.

“Thomas is there to make sure there is no more selective prosecution. Lim’s work is to expose scandals and improve the economy. Give them time.” – July 27, 2018.