UMNO will no longer negotiate with PAS for the distribution of seats in the 15th general election (GE15) and will instead hold such talks through Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), said Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

This is because the Islamic party, which formed the Muafakat Nasional pact with Umno in September 2019, has now joined PN. 

“The cooperation between Umno and BN with PN for GE15 will depend on cooperation on the distribution of seats.

“This means the distribution of seats is no longer based on Umno’s discussions with PAS, but BN with PN because PAS has officially joined PN as its component party,” he said in a Facebook post today.

His remarks follow the formation of the PN presidential council, which was agreed upon yesterday by the parties in government.

Asyraf Wajdi said Umno and the BN supreme council are clear they will support the PN government until GE15 and that Umno would not join PN as one of its component parties.

“So far PN (the political coalition) consists of Bersatu, PAS, Sabah Star and Sabah Progressive Party. 

“The PN government, meanwhile, is established on the understanding of 12 political parties, including Umno and BN component parties namely MCA, MIC, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Gabungan Parti Sarawak,” he said. 

As for the setting up of the PN presidential council, Asyraf Wajdi said it had been proposed by Umno during the formation of the PN government in March, but was only implemented now.

“The purpose (of the presidential council) is to ensure any important policies of the country are discussed in advance with partners who consist of political parties that have agreed to form this government.”

The PN presidential council has a secretariat comprising party leaders in PN.

The council, Asyraf Wajdi added today, would be able to resolve differences of opinion on important policies introduced by the government.

“This can be issues, such as declaring a state of emergency without referring to Umno and causing dissent among the PN parties,” he said, in reference to the federal government’s attempt to get the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent to an emergency declaration nationwide in October, in order to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

The king rejected the request for an emergency proclamation, which Umno said it had not agreed to. – December 18, 2020.