Pas No 2 Plays Muafakat Gambit With Disgruntled Umno Members

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PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has raised the possibility of reviving the Muafakat Nasional alliance between his party and Umno, saying it was popular with many Umno grassroots.
In a report by Free Malaysia Today, the Kubang Kerian MP said PAS is ready to work with Umno once again, although he ruled out teaming up with leaders who were willing to cooperate with DAP.
“The Muafakat Nasional platform to unite the ummah (Muslim community) is still open, and PAS, with Bersatu in Perikatan Nasional, is confident the ummah needs to be united and work together to rebuild the nation.
“But we must get rid of those who have a personal agenda and have put aside this agenda while being willing to ally with DAP,” he said.
PAS leaders have harped on the strategy of playing up divisions within Umno, in what appears to be an attempt to capitalise on discontentment with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi amid the party’s poor showing in the recent state elections.
One of the reasons cited for Umno’s decline in support is its alliance with DAP in the current federal government.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan ManTuan Ibrahim claimed that most Umno members are fond of the Muafakat alliance which flourished briefly as both parties banded together to fight against the Pakatan Harapan administration elected to power in 2018.
He also touted the party line that uniting the ummah did not mean the rights of non-Muslims and non-Malays would be discarded.
He added that the Federal Constitution would be upheld, despite his own party’s push for the establishment of a country based on hudud laws.
Umno leaders including Zahid, Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan, and Deputy Finance Minister I Ahmad Maslan have all poured cold water on PAS’ overtures in recent days.
Zahid said Umno’s experience in Muafakat revealed that PAS is like a ‘sharp bamboo’, ready to strike behind its back.
Over the weekend, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang made the claim that a strong showing by the PN coalition in the upcoming Pulai by-election could possibly be a trigger for a change in the federal government.
It should be noted that members of the PN coalition made similar claims in the run-up to the six state elections held earlier this month and that the federal government, which comprises parties from Harapan, BN, GPS, and GRS, has a significant majority of the 222 parliamentary seats. - Mkini

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