PAS’s pact with Umno under Muafakat Nasional (MN) must be preserved because it was no mean feat to have united two great political rivals, party leader Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said.

His remarks in a Facebook post come after PAS failed to win any of the seats it contested as part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in the recent Malacca elections, although its share of votes increased compared to the 2018 general election.

As PAS decides whether to continue working with Bersatu in PN, Nik Abduh said differences of opinion must not lead to MN’s break up.

“It is a pact that Allah has blessed… it was the joining of two big groups of Islam’s followers, who have fought each other for decades. It was able to overcome all anger and bring unity among the believers.”

MN was formed in 2019, a year after Barisan Nasional lost federal power for the first time in history.

Umno and PAS decided to band together to fight political rival Pakatan Harapan, which had formed the government.

However, ties between the newlyweds soured after Muhyiddin Yassin became prime minister and gave PAS lawmakers plum positions as ministers and heads of government-linked companies.

PAS then formally joined Muhyiddin’s PN coalition, despite its pact with Umno.

Nik Abduh said he could not see why PAS would give up working with Umno when it had been able to work with DAP for seven years in the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

“If PAS could do this with DAP, aren’t we ashamed if we allow MN to be destroyed?

“I cannot stand for such foolishness,” Nik Abduh said.

Nik Abduh lost the recent PAS elections, which also saw other PAS leaders who, like him, support collaboration with Umno rather than PN.

However, he was appointed to the PAS central working committee two days ago. – November 24, 2021.