SHAHRIR Abdul Samad said it is now clear PAS is no longer interested in strengthening its Muafakat Nasional charter with Umno, having made up its mind to go with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional in the next general election.

The Umno veteran said the pact now belongs to Umno and Barisan Nasional only.

“The joint statement with Perikatan Nasional, with PAS defending the PN government, places BN lawmakers in the government in an awkward position.

“There is now no need to wait for Parliament to be dissolved,” the Umno veteran said in a Facebook post.

Shahrir’s statement comes on the back of an announcement by Bersatu and PAS, following a meeting between party leaders Muhyiddin Yassin and Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday.

“Bersatu and PAS will maintain its cooperation in PN in GE15,” the statement by the two read.

As the founding parties of PN, Bersatu and PAS will set up a joint committee to decide the strategies and direction for PN in GE15.

The statement was signed by secretaries-general Hamzah Zainuddin of Bersatu and Takiyuddin Hassan of PAS.

The statement comes after Umno demanded that PAS decide if it will stand with its Muafakat Nasional partner or Bersatu in the ruling coalition.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had told PAS that it was not too late to change its mind about joining PN. 

“Let’s not forget that we won seven by-elections together after the MN pact,” Zahid said during his policy speech at the Umno general assembly on Sunday. – March 31, 2021.