PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today questioned why Umno is adamant in not cooperating with Malay party Bersatu but has no hesitancy working with non-Muslim parties like MCA and MIC.

Hadi said PAS adheres closely to the Muafakat Nasional (MN) principle, which espouses collaboration between Malay-Muslim parties as well as moderate non-Muslim parties.  

“If Umno can work with MCA and MIC to form the government, why can’t it work with PAS and Bersatu?” he asked during a press conference at the 67th PAS Muktamar in Kuala Terengganu today.

Hadi also responded to queries on the direction of PAS and Umno’s partnership in MN after Barisan Nasional confirmed today it will go it alone in the Malacca elections.

PAS and Umno had formed a formal partnership through MN in September 2019.

After the collapse of the previous administration following the “Sheraton move” in late February last year, PAS and Bersatu agreed to form Perikatan Nasional (PN), which did not include Umno.

Hadi said PAS will not forsake the MN partnership despite joining the PN coalition.

“We won’t abandon the MN partnership. We are staying true to the principle of a united ummah, which is not limited to PAS and Umno only,” he said.

Hadi also said PAS cannot be forced to violate the MN charter by working exclusively with Umno and reject partnership with other parties.

He said PAS, Umno and Bersatu can only form the government if the three Malay parties were united and this foundation must be preserved and protected.

“We had concluded the MN charter and it is not exclusive to PAS and Umno. It also includes other parties, especially Bersatu, which we had invited to join, and this is stated in the charter.

“That is why PAS cannot be forced to breach the charter,” he said.

Hadi said PAS is not rigid in embracing only Malay-Muslim unity but the Islamic party is also open to working with moderate non-Muslim parties.

“We have achieved success to the point of forming the government and this needs to be defended,” he said. – November 6, 2021.