UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan has refuted claims of Umno leaders engaged in discussions with PAS. 

Mohamad instead said Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) have made the decision to contest on their own in the upcoming general election. 

“I don’t know with whom he’s (PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang) discussing with, but it’s definitely not me. So let’s not speculate about other parties; just take care of our own. I take care of mine, he takes care of his. 

“Whatever (the) negotiations (may be), they must be transparent, don’t do it in the dark, it shouldn’t be that way,” he told reporters after attending the Semarak Merdeka programme in Kuala Sawah, Rantau. 

Media outlets reported today that Hadi said the possibility for negotiations between PAS and Umno through Muafakat Nasional is always open and currently ongoing, involving leaders and grassroots of both parties. 

Mohamad said he does not know whether Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has decided to negotiate with PAS. 

“I haven’t heard anything about the party or president talking about sending an Umno representative to negotiate with PAS. As of today, I don’t know, so maybe there is but I don’t know. As far as I am the deputy president, I have not heard of the president doing such a thing as sending a special representative for negotiations,” he added. – Bernama, September 3, 2022.