PAS has said publicly it will not work with Barisan Nasional in the Sg Kandis by-election but there is nothing to stop Umno from partnering the Islamic party on the sly, said an Umno leader yesterday.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the party Umno will partner PAS on the sly after an informal agreement.

“We have agreed to share a forum and goals with PAS, but we cannot share the same stage under a party,” said the Bera MP.

Top leaders and personalities from both parties will likely turn up at the same events, he said.

“We could have Azhar Idrus and Syamsul Debat on the same stage, for instance. And this will show that the parties are together,” said the former rural and regional minister at the launch of the Barisan Nasional election centre on Jalan Siswi Kanan yesterday.

“We will try to have the secretaries-general of both parties in one final ceramah on the eve of polling for Sg Kandis on August 4,” he said.

PAS did not field a candidate for the Sg Kandis by-election and will assist Lokman Noor Adam’s campaign here.

The cooperation between PAS and Umno “will force Pakatan Harapan out”, he said at the campaign launch.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, described PAS and Umno as brothers after the former said it would not contest the by-election. 

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa hit back yesterday, saying “our relationship with PAS is none of his business”.

PAS fielded a candidate in the May 9 general election but is opting out this time.

Umno’s Lokman Noor Adam will represent BN against PKR’s Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent K. Murthy.

Polling for the Selangor state seat will be held on August 4.

The seat became vacant on July 2 after the death of assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei from PKR. – July 24, 2018.