PAS will not work with Umno as long as the Malay nationalist party is led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said this in response to Zahid, who had said that his party will not work with the Islamist party as long as Abdul Hadi Awang is president of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) component party.

“PAS will not cooperate (with Umno) as long as Ahmad Zahid is the president. The result of the Sungai Bakap by-election is a clear signal that PN is capable of facing the 16th general election (on the strength of) PN,” he was quoted as saying in New Straits Times today.

Tuan Ibrahim said PN would remain strong as long as Zahid led Umno.

“The rejection of (Pakatan Harapan by) Malay and even Chinese voters in the by-election clearly shows that the people reject the government. I am confident that as long as Ahmad Zahid leads Umno, it is good news for PN, because it will drive Umno members towards PN, and it will be a liability for the PH-BN government,” he said.

He said Hadi had achieved significant success for PAS.

“The PAS president remains steadfast on uniting the ummah under divine guidance, uniting for good and righteousness, not supporting falsehood and sin,” he said.

Umno in coalition with Pakatan Harapan and parties from Sabah and Sarawak, while PAS is in the opposition bloc with Bersatu and Gerakan.

PAS is the largest Malay party in Parliament with 43 seats while Umno has 26. – July 9, 2024.