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PETALING JAYA: The relationship between political giants PAS and Umno in Muafakat Nasional (MN) remains strong, contrary to the perception of some sectors, says PAS Youth chief Khairil Nizam Khiruddin.
He said that his party’s decision to provide unconditional support to Perikatan Nasional (PN) was not a problem with his MN ally, Umno.
Talks about a rift between the two parties emerged recently when former Umno Veterans Association Secretary General Mustapha Yaakub admitted that the party’s ties to the PAS were not as close as before, although there were no serious disagreements.
The relationship took another hit after Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari described the Barisan Nasional (BN) Backbenchers’ Club’s conditional support for the budget as similar to the legend of “Puteri Gunung Ledang.”
Fadhli criticized former Prime Minister Najib Razak for urging the government to extend the loan moratorium and allow people to withdraw up to RM 10,000 from their Employee Provident Fund Account 1.
However, although he admitted that the PAS position on the budget was different from BN’s, he denied that the parties were at odds.
“Only with that matter (the conditional support to the budget) I do not agree. I did not mean to insult, I said it with respect. If it was hurtful, I apologize, but I just wanted to make my meaning clear, ”he said in a Facebook post.
In a reply on Facebook, Najib said he doesn’t hold a grudge and would still be friends with his PAS counterpart.
Referring to claims that Umno was not happy about his partner MN forming the PN coalition with PPBM, Khairil said there was no protest against speculation.
“The formation of PN was known to Umno and was discussed at the central meeting of MN. Umno didn’t get in our way, ”he told FMT.
He said that the claims that PAS wanted to leave Umno and MN after joining PN were not true at all, adding that his party that joined PN was similar to Umno being in BN.
“PAS is a component party of PN, like Umno in BN. There are no differences at all. We will continue to strengthen the relationship in MN, ”he said.
