ISLAMIST party PAS, and not Umno, left Muafakat Nasional (MN), Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said today.

“We still wanted to save PAS in Malacca by asking them to contest under their own logo. But they wanted to use Perikatan Nasional’s logo,” Asyraf said at a press conference at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

He said Umno made the offer as the 2020 Umno general assembly had ordered the leadership to strengthen MN.

He said Umno had asked PAS three times whether it would join the MN steering committee to formalise the pact.

“But PAS refused. According to former Majlis Syura secretary Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, PAS had already joined Perikatan Nasional without referring to their own central committee or Majlis Syura,” said the Umno Youth chief.

“This proves that PAS joined Perikatan Nasional behind Umno’s backs. It is PAS that has turned its back on Umno.”

On Tuesday, Khairuddin announced that he was quitting PAS to become an Independent MP.

Although the former minister did not reveal his reason for resigning, it is believed to be linked to his fallout with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

After the 2018 general election, PAS and Umno had banded together to form MN to attack Pakatan Harapan (PH).

However, following the fall of PH, PAS joined Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional in 2020. – March 18, 2022.