Umno-Pas love story nearing its end

SHAH ALAM - The imminent death of Muafakat Nasional is further strengthened by Umno Kelantan’s decision to part ways with its Pas counterpart last weekend.

The decision, effective immediately, was announced on Saturday by Kelantan UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

He cited Pas Kelantan’s cooperation with Bersatu and their decision to go into the 15th General Election (GE15) together.

However, he said that seven Kelantan Umno State Assemblymen (ADUN) would continue their support to the state government as long as Pas at the state and central levels supported the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“For the sake of political stability and respecting the democratic results given by the people in the last election, let the state government manage the governance of the people of Kelantan without any pressure.

“Even though Umno is no longer working with Pas, Umno will still give support to the state government and the Kelantan Menteri Besar,” he had said in a statement.

Ahmad Jazlan said they have also decided to contest in all 45 state seats and 14 parliamentary seats in Kelantan in the GE15.

MN’s fate in Johor seems to be on the same path as confirmed by Johor Umno Deputy President Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed that the two parties will no longer be working together in the upcoming Johor State Elections.

At the central level, many of Umno’s top leadership has already dropped signals that Barisan Nasional will contest solo in GE15, without Pas - who is seen to be happy with Bersatu.

Sinar Daily was made to understand that the removal of Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali as the Pas Central Committee Member (2021-2023) was due to his constant reminder to the party’s president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan about the purpose of the MN coalition.

Although many of Pas supporters and leaders want to make the cooperation with Umno and MN altogether a success, this was not reflected in reality as the party’s top leadership was much more comfortable with Umno’s nemesis, Bersatu under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) umbrella.

Umno is now able to stand indecently once more without the support of Pas, which they relied on after their shameful defeat 14th General Election after their shameful defeat.

BN’s landslide win during the Melaka State Election has regained the coalition’s confidence of what they once were and leveraging on this.