AN UMNO leader has denied PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s claim that the Malay nationalist party is currently in talks with PAS to discuss a new cooperation.
According to UMNO secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, while such talks may arise between party members or supporters, no formal discussions were held among the parties’ leaders, Malaysiakini reported.
“I don’t even know as UMNO’s secretary-general, if there was any such discussion it should be between the leadership of both parties,” he was quoted as saying during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (July 22) morning.
“I (also) heard that PAS leaders are discussing with Pakatan Harapan, (so) they can also discuss.”
Earlier today, Utusan Malaysia reported Fadhli as saying that PAS and UMNO leaders had met several times to discuss a potential GE16 partnership.
The Pasir Mas MP claimed that the series of informal meetings, which had taken place recently, involved key leaders from both parties who believed they could consolidate the Malay vote.

Meanwhile, UMNO supreme council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii accused Fadhli of promoting false narratives and echoed Asyraf’s earlier statement that there had been no formal negotiations between both parties.
Speaking to FMT, Razlan said Fadhli’s claim about unnamed UMNO leaders meeting PAS leaders could also be an attempt to cause internal conflict in UMNO.
“Fadhli should be more concerned about the ever-worsening relationship between PAS and Bersatu,” he told the news portal.
Razlan further claimed that he had received complaints from PAS grassroots members about Bersatu, which he said stemmed from Bersatu’s continued insistence on the prime minister’s seat and other high-ranking positions if it forms the government in the future.
“They (PAS grassroots members) are not comfortable with Bersatu, but we don’t bring it up because this is a matter between PAS and Bersatu,” he commented.
Razlan also noted that discussions about cooperation must be done formally with the party’s top leaders, while decisions can only be made by the party’s political bureau and Supreme Council.
“In my opinion, Fadhli shouldn’t make statements that purposely divide the Malays,” he added. – July 22, 2024