MELAKA: Umno had never any intention to threaten PAS not to join forces with Bersatu as each political party is free to execute its own policies and plans, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.
However, Umno had recently brought up the decisions taken by the Muafakat Nasional leadership in October and November last year regarding the basis of continuing their alliance for the Melaka state elections.
He said Umno’s cooperation with PAS (within MN) is based on the principle that PAS will use its own logo. However, the PAS leadership does not seem to be interested in what was decided within Muafakat Nasional as it wants to be with PPBM (Bersatu),” he said in a statement tonight.
An agreement to form Muafakat Nasional, an electoral understanding between Umno and PAS, was signed by Zahid and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang in September 2019.
The Melaka state elections are being held following the dissolution of the state assembly on Oct 4, after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the chief minister.
Nominations will be held tomorrow and polling will take place on Nov 20 for 28 seats in the state assembly. Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan are fielding candidates in all 28 seats.-FMT