DESPITE decades of animosity between Umno and PAS, there is a need to look to the future in the effort to uphold Islam, said Najib Razak. 

The former Umno president said PAS supporters could now see Umno’s commitment towards Islam was far greater than Pakatan Harapan coalition. 

“There could be some lingering feelings that we cannot overlook but hopefully people realise that what’s important is not the past, it’s the future. 

“The future is we must do whatever we can to uphold Islam but at the same time, taking into interest other religions and communities,” he told reporters after joining a walkabout in Kg Sg Kandis with Barisan Nasional’s candidate Lokman Noor Adam.

He was responding to a question whether the onus was on PAS to help BN in the Sg Kandis by-election, given that the Islamist party was also championing Islam and the Malay rights.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, recently described PAS and Umno as brothers, following the Islamist party’s decision not to contest the by-election. 

PAS fielded a candidate in the May 9 general election but is opting out this time to make way for BN to contest in the Malay-majority seat. 

PAS, however, is adamant about not helping the BN candidate in the by-election. 

Najib said his presence today was only to help Lokman and the BN campaign. 

“I’m here just to help out whatever I can to make sure our candidate does well.”

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

A 71% Malay seat, PKR won the seat by 12,500 votes over candidates from BN, PAS and Parti Rakyat Malaysia in GE14.

The Sungai Kandis by-election will see a three-cornered fight between Lokman, Zawawi Ahmad Mughni (PKR) and independent candidate Murthy Krishnasamy.

Polling for the Selangor state seat is on August 4. – July 25, 2018.