GEORGETOWN - Penang Umno still hopes to cooperate with Pas in the Muafakat Nasional (MN) coalition to face the 15th General Election (GE15).
Its chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said although both parties chose to lead their own path, at the state level, Penang Umno still hopes for the best solution to restore cooperation between both parties.
He said in Penang, Umno and Pas have a close relationship and even support each other in every programme held.
"In Penang, we are different. We are close to Pas and that friendship can be seen at the grassroots level to the state leadership.
"Even now, Umno and Pas are still discussing MN cooperation at the state level," he said when met after the launch of the Penang Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) election machinery here.
Also present was Kimma Penang Chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader.
In the meantime, Musa, who is also the Penang BN Chairman said his party wanted to avoid a clash with Pas candidates in GE15 as seen in GE14.
However, he said Penang Umno will comply to any decision by the leadership, including having to face a three-way fight.
"If we have to fight Pas candidates, we would agree but it's like a competition between friends and will avoid campaigns that condemn or hate each other.
"However, if faced with a candidate from Bersatu, we will fight since the majority of Umno's grassroots reject the party," he said.
On Thursday, Pas was reported to have chosen Perikatan Nasional (PN) as an ally to face GE15.
Its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision was made on the principle of unifying the ummah.
The decision shows PAS has rejected Umno to cooperate in GE15.