PAS veep Idris Ahmad says door still open for Umno to join Malay-Muslim unification pact
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad said his party is still keen to continue its Malay-Muslim unification agenda with Umno, despite being blamed for betraying their previous Muafakat Nasional (MN) political alliance.
He also claimed that Umno could have won more during the last general election if it had teamed up with the Islamist party and Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying its poor performance was due to its leaders’ arrogance.
“PAS had never stopped from intending to bring Umno into its ummah unification agenda and still wants to continue with it.
“In such a situation, PAS still wants to continue the ummah unification agenda with an Umno that is clear.
“However, Umno chose to keep struggling in the murky waters and was willing to be with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP in the unity government,” said Idris in a statement today.
He was also defending PAS against Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Muhamad Hasan’s criticism for their alleged betrayal when forming their past political alliance.
“PAS only wanted to see to the success of the ummah unification where the former MN political alliance and Barisan Nasional (BN), together with PN can be united under one banner.
“The formula that PAS proposed was for BN, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and PAS to unite against Pakatan Harapan (PH) in GE15.
“We are confident that we can win in GE15 if it is on a one-on-one contest.
“However, Umno chose to be arrogant due to their ego and foolishness,” said Idris.
Idris said it was also unfair for Umno to label PAS as “traitors” as it had never betrayed Umno and had in fact given in to the party in past occasions as a sincere gesture of friendship.
The Bagan Serai MP pointed out that it was in fact PAS who reached out to Umno after it lost badly in the watershed general election in 2018.
“PAS had even avoided seat clashes with them in the general election as our way of maintaining that friendship.
“As friends, PAS continued to give in for the sake of ummah unification until Umno managed to win in several by-elections.
“For PAS, the success of the ummah unification is priceless and we welcome any party who wants to be friends on the basis of the Malay-Muslim unity,” said Idris.
In Umno’s annual general meeting in January, Muhamad chided his party’s former ally turned foe PAS for the latter’s inconsistency when forming a political alliance.
Mohamad, or also known as Tok Mat, was reported saying that the Islamist party had been talking to all political sides including Umno’s former ally PN.
He said PAS are never loyal or sincere based on Umno’s experience of working with them.
