PETALING JAYA: Umno is prepared to go it alone without PAS in the 15th general election (GE15) if the Islamist party feels PPBM is “prettier and richer”, says Umno election director Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who remains confident the party can win the polls by itself.
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He was speaking to FMT a day after PAS and PPBM decided to continue to strengthen their collaboration in Perikatan Nasional (PN) for GE15. The deal has raised questions over PAS’ commitment to its pact with Umno in Muafakat Nasional (MN).
Tajuddin, however, skirted the issue of whether the joint statement was PAS’ way of snubbing Umno as its ally in GE15. Instead, he said, Umno was ready for any eventuality.
“If we are with PAS, even though it is not finalised yet, Umno will contest in 96 seats. But if PAS prefers PPBM, if it sees PPBM as prettier, richer than us (and) Umno as poorer, it’s ok, we are poor lah.
“If PAS decides not to be with us, we will contest in 120 seats,” he said.
Umno and PAS had formed MN, a political coalition between the two biggest Malay parties, in 2019.
However, cracks began to appear when PAS started becoming closer to PPBM through PN after the Sheraton Move, which saw the fall of the Pakatan Harapan-led government and the elevation of PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.
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The rise of the PN-led government also saw PAS getting back into the federal government after 44 years. It was last part of the government under Barisan Nasional in the early 70s but quit after a fight with Umno in 1977.
During last weekend’s general assembly, Umno confirmed its decision to end its cooperation with PPBM once Parliament is dissolved but wanted to maintain its ties with PAS. Several leaders had called on PAS to choose which party it wanted as its ally – Umno or PPBM.
Tajuddin told FMT that Umno will definitely take back the seats it won during GE14, including those held by PPBM top guns who defected from Umno.
He said the party was confident of winning back these seats. “We are not having any seat negotiations with PPBM, we are just waiting for PAS.”
During the assembly, Perak Umno had said it wanted to win back its former strongholds in Larut, Bagan Serai and Bukit Gantang, all held by PPBM leaders who defected from Umno.
State chief Saarani Mohamad expressed disappointment that Umno members in these constituencies were “stolen” by PPBM.
Similar sentiments had been expressed by Johor Umno leaders, with some even wanting the party to contest in Pagoh, the seat held by Muhyiddin.-FMT