UMNO will not form a political pact with PAS, but is in agreement with the Islamist party on issues regarding race and religion, said deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in an interview ahead of Umno’s general assembly.

“We’ve never discussed the issue of tahaluf siyasi, or political cooperation,” Zahid told Mingguan Malaysia.

The Umno vice-president however, said there had been discussions with PAS leaders regarding issues affecting Islam and the Malays.

“We have illuminated and crystallised those issues,” he said.

Zahid said the proposal by PAS to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) was an example of two parties’ cooperation.

“When there was all sorts of speculation regarding Act 355, it was clear that this collaboration reinvigorated the PAS leadership and gave new hope to the party’s followers.

“Even former PAS (leaders) couldn’t agree with the amendment and have since been ejected from the party, it was clear that the crystallisation of the issue gave new light for PAS’ leadership.

“In fact, we have seen other issues that (both parties) have mutual agreement on, such as when PAS and Umno leadership stood on the same stage regarding the Rohingya issue. 

“It shows while we may not be discussing political cooperation, we share the same values with regards to tabayyun and taawun,” Zahid said. 

PAS president Hadi Awang introduced a private members bill last October to allow state religious authorities to impose harsher Islamic punishment, which include up to 100 strokes of the cane for certain offences and allowing shariah courts to fine individuals up to RM100,000. 

The bill was taken up by Barisan Nasional in March but was later returned to PAS as a private members motion.

Hadi tabled the bill on April 6, towards the end of a 20-hour marathon parliamentary session. However, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia ended the debate and the bill was never put to a vote. – December 3, 2017.