PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has expressed openness to working with UMNO once again.
Despite a tumultuous history between the two parties, Tuan Ibrahim emphasised that any potential collaboration must be channeled through the Perikatan Nasional (PN) platform, which also includes Bersatu.
“The party has never sidelined the agenda of fostering unity through the ummah,” he told FreeMalaysiaToday.
“Collaboration with any party is feasible through PN because, as the main party, all political cooperation must be approved by the syura council.”
This statement comes in response to UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Isham Jalil’s call for the unification of Malay parties to jointly govern the nation yesterday (Dec 5).
Isham further suggested that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar recently elected as the Kemaman MP could potentially become the prime minister if PN and UMNO reached a consensus before the 16th General Election (GE16).
Moreover, the history between PAS and UMNO has been marked by highs and lows. After the GE14, the two parties joined forces, forming the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact during their time in the opposition.
However, tensions flared when PAS joined the Bersatu-led PN, resulting in UMNO’s departure from MN.
In the GE15, UMNO chose to contest independently under Barisan Nasional (BN), securing only 30 seats compared to PN’s 74. PAS central committee member Datuk Awang Hashim has reiterated that the door remains open to UMNO, highlighting the spirit of unity among the ummah.
“MN is one of the things that we are cultivating to continue the unity of the ummah.”
As political dynamics in Malaysia continue to evolve, the prospect of PAS and UMNO rekindling their collaboration through PN adds a new dimension to the country’s political landscape, leaving many to speculate about the potential implications for the upcoming general election. – Dec 6, 2023
Main photo credit: HarakahDaily
