Umno, PAS speaking same language, says Guan Eng

(FMT) – An Umno leader’s vow to help PAS amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 in the Dewan Rakyat shows that both parties enjoy close cooperation, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.

Accusing Umno and PAS of speaking the “same language”, Lim said this points to the two parties most likely cooperating as partners ahead of the next general election (GE14).

“These days, you do not see PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang attacking Umno, but instead he chooses to attack the opposition.

“You do not see him attacking corruption related matters but instead being continuously hostile towards opposition parties and non-Muslims.

“I find it hard to believe PAS can deny its cooperation with Umno. They are even using similar language these days,” the Penang chief minister told reporters in Bukit Mertajam today.

On Saturday, Umno information chief Annuar Musa said Umno was willing to work with PAS to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act. The amendment, first proposed as a private member’s bill by Hadi last year, was to enhance punishments the shariah courts can impose on Muslim offenders.

According to a Bernama report, the Ketereh MP said Umno and PAS need to discuss and find common ground for the good of the Muslim community because continued bickering will not bring any benefit.

He said although the two political parties could not compromise on some issues, they could still cooperate using the “ta’awun” concept such as for the amendment to the Act 355.

“We have no problem if PAS wants to discuss and cooperate for the good of Muslims,” Annuar had reportedly said.

However, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is sceptical of this new cooperation, calling the party leadership to examine its recent close ties with PAS to ensure it does not get betrayed a second time.

The Gua Musang MP said Umno needed to review the matter carefully before committing to political cooperation with the Islamist party in GE14.