PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man made a beeline for the exit at the conclusion of the Umno president’s speech at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Hadi ignored the waiting media’s requests for his reaction to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s address as he made his escape. Unit Amal members shoved the press aside to let their leader pass. 

PAS’ commitment to the Muafakat Nasional charter has come under question at the Umno general assembly.

Prior to Hadi’s exit, Zahid has reminded PAS of the pact it signed with Umno in 2019.

“Let me remind PAS that Umno had agreed to support the Perikatan Nasional government. But little did we know that a new coalition named Perikatan would be formed without Umno,” Zahid said.

He said Umno and PAS had agreed to hold off joining other political coalitions.

“Umno is firm on this. It is not too late to come back to the Muafakat pact. We must be steadfast as (leaving the pact) will not benefit either Umno or PAS.”

Yesterday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan and Umno youth chief Dr Aysraf Wajdi Dusuki urged PAS to choose between Bersatu and Umno ahead of the general election.

“We want PAS with us but that is not our decision to make. It is PAS who must decide,” Mohamad told reporters.

PAS has made it clear that it wants to keep both its alliance with Umno in Muafakat and its membership in the PN coalition with Bersatu.

Umno, meanwhile, has declared that it will be withdrawing its support for PN when parliament is dissolved and that it will not be working with Bersatu in the elections.

Mohamad said PAS would only be able to retain its Malay seats on the east coast it it worked with Umno and BN.

“It’s not a matter of fear… it is simply more beneficial for PAS to be with BN.

“PAS has a better chance of winning the Malay contests together with us.” – March 28, 2021.