PAS repeats: No unity talks or political co-opeartion with Umno

By Wong Choon Mei, Suara Keadilan

PAS elections director Mustafa Ali is the second party leader to come out and dismiss concerns that unity talks with arch rival Umno would take place.

“The president bounced the idea around but the members did not agree. The issue was never discussed and a decision was not reached on the matter,” Mustafa told reporters on Tuesday.

On Monday night, central working committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa rejected an invitation from Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to begin round-table discussions with a view to a potential merger.

“PAS cannot make any decision without talking to its partners. We have an agreement,” Mujahid had said on TV talk-show Astro Awani.

“I think there are many mechanisms for cooperation like in Parliament or in the way the federal government treats Pakatan Rakyat governments.”

Party president Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharudin Mat Isa had stirred up a storm when they reiterated at their party’s annual congress last week that PAS had right to hold talks with any party, including Umno.

Not only did it draw flak for seeming to renege on its electoral pact with Pakatan partners DAP and PKR, but non-Malay voters were also angered as a tie-up between PAS and Umno could undermine their interests.

Embarrassing cat-calls from Umno

Apart from the jeers, it also sparked a chain of cat-calls and laughter from the Umno-BN.

This perhaps has been the more embarrassing and the more difficult to swallow for the proud and paternalistic PAS, although the political impact and damage is by far the lesser.

The Islamic-based party prides itself on its independence and moral integrity versus Umno, which it has long accused of lacking in principles and scruples.

Said Mustafa: “This is not sweeping the issue under the carpet, the issue never occurred. A decision was never made at the meeting. The unity talks are not relevant at this point of time.”

“We can have engagement with any party, MIC, MCA, Umno. I see these leaders every day, I talk to them. I even bump into them at the airport. But I only talk with them, it is not negotiating with them.”

“We are with the Pakatan Rakyat and our duty now is to bury Umno in the Manik Urai by-election.”

However, it is unlikely to quell the current bout of bad press. Until the issue is formally thrashed out at the Pakatan top leadership council meeting, speculation will remain high that PAS could again hold ’secret talk’s with Umno as it did last year following the 2008 general election.

The Pakatan council is expected to meet on the sidelines of Parliament, which is due to sit from June 15 onwards.

Said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang: “This is a test of the wisdom and capability of DAP, PKR and PAS leaders to measure up to the expectations of the people as expressed in the March general election last year to advance the cause of Pakatan Rakyat.”

Said PKR president Wan Azizah: “We will wait for a clarification from the PAS leadership regarding a unity government before making any comment on a unity government with Umno.”