ALOR STAR: Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has called on Umno members and supporters to revisit Muafakat Nasional (MN), the political alliance between Umno and Pas, ahead of the 16th general election (GE16), citing the need for political stability at the grassroots level.
Sanusi, who is Kedah menteri besar, said the party is open to support from Umno members who share its political direction, even if they remain within Umno’s party structure.
“We invite our friends in Umno. We welcome Umno members who want to work with Pas.
“Even if they are still in Umno, organised under Umno and led by Umno leaders, we believe Umno members, especially in Sik, are smart and know who to vote for.
“In GE16, I am confident they will stand with Pas,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Sanusi, who is also Kedah Perikatan Nasional chairman, said past cooperation between Pas and Umno members showed that political differences did not necessarily disrupt relations at the community level.
He said that Pas does not practise selective cooperation in its political approach.
“We live in the same villages, like siblings. We hope this continues because we share the same faith, the same ‘qibla’ (prayer direction) and the same mosque communities.
“We do not discriminate. We treat all parties equally and fairly. I urge Pas members to continue working hard to win GE16,” he said.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh suggested reviving MN amid political developments in Perlis, where eight state assemblymen were reported to have submitted statutory declarations to the palace after losing confidence in the then menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli from Pas.
Subsequently, Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari expressed agreement with Akmal’s proposal, describing the revival of MN as a renewed effort towards unity among Muslims in a Facebook post.
The crisis escalated following the appointment of Bersatu’s Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah as the new menteri besar, a move that unsettled several senior Pas leaders.
In response, Fadhli raised questions over Pas-Bersatu relations following Abu Bakar’s appointment and welcomed Akmal’s latest suggestion to revive Muafakat Nasional.
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