THE PAS-Umno cooperation will be defined and decided at the Islamist party’s congress, or muktamar, in Kuala Terengganu next weekend, said the party’s central research director Mohd Zuhdi Marsuki.

The party’s top leadership will hear the views of several representatives on the form of cooperation between two of the country’s largest Malay-Muslim political parties, before a decision is finally made, he said.

Until then, any form of cooperation between PAS and Umno is centred on issues relating to the interest of Islam and Malays, as previously decided by the Syura Council of Scholars.

“Whether or not the cooperation (with Umno) will be closer, or it will be in the form of a coalition, this will be decided at the coming muktamar,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“The final word will then be decided by the Syura Council.”

The political relationship between PAS and Umno has strengthened following two by-elections in Selangor in the first 100 days after the 14th general election.

At the Sg Kandis by-election, PAS campaigned for the Barisan Nasional candidate whereas for the Seri Setia by-election this Saturday, Umno returned the favour.

On Friday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan and his counterpart from PAS, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, shared a stage during a ceramah in Seri Setia.

PAS’ constitution places the Syura Council of Scholars as the highest decision-making body, followed by the Mursyidul Am Hashim Jasin. The council decided to sever ties with DAP and PKR when all three parties were in the former Pakatan Rakyat pact.

Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, a member of the council, said it was the right time for Umno and PAS to unite after their GE14 performance.

“As much as Umno failed to defend itself, PAS also failed to defend itself in Pakatan Rakyat. These two parties failed, which is why today we have come together,” he said.

After suffering crippling losses in the May 9 polls, Umno forged a close relationship with PAS to try and regain some of the Malay votes lost to Pakatan Harapan.

Pollster Ilham Centre said in a post-election survey that PH will likely lose the next general election if as little as 11% of the Malay vote swings back to Umno.

The survey also found that despite forming the government, PH obtained the lowest percentage of the Malay vote, after Umno and PAS.

BN managed to win 45% of the Malay vote in the peninsula, whereas PAS enjoyed 32% support, leaving PH with only 23%.

PAS managed to win two states in the east coast – Kelantan and Terengganu – and made large inroads in Pahang. PH performed most poorly in the east coast and several Malay-majority areas.

The annual PAS congress in Terengganu will last for three days, beginning September 14. Two weeks later, on September 29 and 30, Umno will hold its annual assembly in Kuala Lumpur. – September 7, 2018.