Umno: PAS did not talk to us

(The Star) – Selangor Umno leaders have denied that PAS had approached them about a possible collaboration to form the state ­government.

Selangor Umno secretary Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz said that so far, no PAS leaders had come to see them.

“I think the screen capture of those WhatsApp messages between PAS leaders (that discussed teaming up with Umno) were merely chit-chat.

“Perhaps it was just Dr Mohd Zuhdi’s personal opinion,” said Johan, referring to PAS central committee member Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki who had, in a WhatsApp group chat, shared the idea of teaming up with Umno.

In the screenshot of the group chat that was circulated on social media, Dr Mohd Zuhdi had outlined his idea of PAS quitting Pakatan Rakyat and cooperating with Umno assemblymen to form a simple majority government in Selangor.

On whether Umno was willing to work with PAS, the Semenyih assemblyman said such matters would have to be discussed with the party leadership.

“If Pakatan has failed to manage the state, they should give Barisan Nasional a chance to lead.

“We are not greedy for power but there is a need to focus on issues faced by the rakyat,” he said.

In Klang, Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Abdul Shukur Idrus said the party would not get involved in the internal problems plaguing the state government.

He said that if anyone wanted to combine forces with Umno, they needed to confer directly with party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“We will abide by our president’s decision on this,’’ said the Kuang assemblyman.

Abdul Shukur also said PKR’s attempts to unseat Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was being widely observed by the people.

“Let them see for themselves the mistake they made by choosing Pakatan to govern the state,” he said.