Umno open to ‘marriage’ with PAS

Umno is still open and ready to hear PAS’s unity government proposal which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak described as sincere for the national good.

"It's not that there is no response. I have said before, we are open and ready to hear their proposal. We have never rejected cooperation for national good," Najib said today when asked about the lack of response to the PAS unity government offer.

When asked if he feels the Islamist party is sincere in its intentions, the Umno president replied: "Yes, I sense they are sincere."

Asked further whether the unity government would ever happen, Najib said that they are at the beginning and likened the process to a marriage proposal.

"We have to risik risik (investigate) first. Like if we want to get married, we have to investigate first. Whether it happens or not, takdir menentukan (it is up to fate)."

PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang had offered to form a unity government with BN during the party's general assembly earlier this month, an offer which was warmly received by top BN leaders but met with criticisms by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat called PAS leaders intending to form a unity government with the Barisan Nasional as "Umno puppets".