BERSATU is unperturbed by rumoured talks between UMNO and PAS potentially cooperating in the next general election as claimed by government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil, said a party leader.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Faysal Wan Ahmad Kamal was responding to Fahmi’s statement on Wednesday (July 24) where the latter said that the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin-led party should be “worried sick” about the cooperation rumours.
Fahmi had also claimed that Bersatu knows that it is a liability towards Perikatan Nasional (PN) and coalition member PAS.
“Bersatu is not worried about this because we are still with PAS in a registered coalition. Our focus now is to face the Nenggiri by-election, and we see that the cooperation between Bersatu and PAS has yielded good results at various levels since the 15th general election,” he was quoted as saying to Malaysiakini.
“They (Harapan) are afraid of PN’s strength that is gaining support from the people even though we are the (federal) opposition – who are under great pressure asserted by the government on various matters.
“The support of the people has not faded, despite numerous slander, restrictions, and then I was suspended for six months (from parliamentary duties) … It did not at all weaken the support and cooperation between the parties.”
The Machang MP was responding to the question if Bersatu was concerned about rumours of “secret negotiations” between UMNO and PAS.
This is in light of PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s allegations on Monday (July 23) that UMNO leaders had met with PAS on several occasions to discuss an alliance for the next general election.
Utusan Malaysia reported Fadhli as saying that several unofficial meetings involving the main leaders of both partis had taken place which touched on uniting the Malay vote.
Fadhli also claimed that an UMNO leader whom he did not name had said that he was in a dilemma as he was working with the unity government. He said the UMNO leader had described this as being to the party’s detriment.
UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had since then shot down the rumours, saying that there were no official meetings or discussions between both parties to form an electoral pact.
However, he did not rule out that certain quarters could have held meetings in their personal capacities, adding that even if there were such meetings, these were done in their personal capacities and not on behalf of the party. – July 25, 2024
Main pic credit: mykmu.net
