UMNO Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi has brushed off talk of a possible link-up between the party and PAS.

Although the reunification would be purely political, the cooperation would still not be beneficiary to any party, Puad said.

“We missed the opportunity since the failure of Muafakat Nasional (MN).

“At that time the issue of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Rome statute united Umno and PAS.

“But when political factors come in, it hinders cooperation,” Puad posted on his Facebook today. 

MN was formed in 2019, following Umno’s defeat in the 2018 general election, with a view to spurring ummah unity in the opposition.

Puad said the cooperation, if resurrected, would only serve as a “marriage of convenience” because of the recent Kemaman by-election. 

He, however, suggested the party move forward with the unity government and focus on the economy, and that Perikatan Nasional (PN) become a constructive opposition.

On Monday, Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil said PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar could become the prime minister if PN succeeds in wooing Umno again before the next general election, following the Terengganu menteri besar’s victory in Kemaman.

However, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said any link-up with Umno must go through the PN platform and include Bersatu. – December 6, 2023.