In a noteworthy political commentary, PAS election director Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor has expressed his belief that the fate of the Muafakat Nasional (MN) political pact, uniting PAS and Umno, rests significantly on the leadership within Umno itself.
Sanusi opines that the collaboration between the two parties would endure if Umno were led by someone other than its current president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
While emphasizing PAS’s continued openness to cooperation with Umno under the MN banner, Sanusi highlighted the shared identity as fellow Muslims and stressed that this coalition remains a crucial necessity for all Muslims in Malaysia, according to reports.
He pointed to the MN charter, which explicitly outlines its inclusivity for all Muslims, including the Bumiputera communities in Sabah and Sarawak.
Sanusi expressed concerns about Zahid’s leadership approach, noting that upon assuming the presidency, Zahid demonstrated a reluctance to collaborate with parties beyond PAS and Umno, a move that was contrary to the principles of MN.
The PAS election director remarked, “I believe that MN can be formed again if Zahid was no Umno president anymore.”
The sentiment was echoed by PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Hashim Jasin, who contended that Umno’s collaboration with DAP could lead to its decline in the next general election scheduled for 2027.
Hashim emphasized the discontent among Malays and Umno’s grassroots regarding the party’s coalition with DAP and squarely placed the blame on Zahid for this dissatisfaction.
He cited the recent Kemaman parliamentary by-election in Terengganu, where Umno suffered a significant defeat, as evidence of the growing dissatisfaction.
He warned of Umno’s potential decline, stating, “We never declared Umno as an enemy, but if it continues on this path, they will be buried after GE16.”
The internal criticism within Umno regarding its collaboration with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP has placed Zahid under increasing pressure.
The MN pact, initially established as a collaboration for Muslim political cooperation between Umno and PAS in 2019, encountered a setback when PAS later aligned with Bersatu, an Umno offshoot that Zahid refused to engage with.
The current dynamics within Umno, marked by internal dissent, underscore the intricate landscape of Malaysian politics as the parties navigate alliances and reposition themselves in preparation for future electoral challenges.
