Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 5): Umno and PAS have formalised their political collaboration, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan said following a meeting of the parties’ top leaders tolday.

"This started long ago. First, we sent the 'engagement ring' at Sungai Kandis, then we got 'engaged' in Seri Setia.

"And today, this is our 'wedding ceremony'. It is formal, that is why we are doing it like this.

"It is official. We are married," Mohamad was reported as saying by Malaysiakini. He was referring to the by-elections last year in Sg Kandis and Seri Setia, where the two parties combined forces against Pakatan Harapan.

Mohamad said that the two parties would work on a political platform without any conditions, especially in by-elections, for the interests of uniting the Muslims and Malays, The Star Online reported.

The parties will establish a main committee and an Opposition caucus in Parliament, but will not be forming a coalition, he was reported as saying.

"This main committee will be chaired by both me and the PAS deputy president. There will be a technical committee chaired by the two vice-presidents of the parties,” said Mohamad, who is carrying out the duties of the Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is on leave.

"Our agenda is not to create a Malay pact versus the non-Malays. We want to unite the Muslims and bumiputra without sidelining any other race and religion," Mohamad was quoted as saying.

He dismissed talk of a common logo for the two parties.

The announcement followed a three-hour meeting between leaders of the two parties at the Umno headquarters in the Putra World Trade Centre.

Umno supreme council members Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, vice-president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Wanita chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad and Youth chief Datuk Seri Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki were among those present, The Star Online said.

PAS leaders included deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, vice-president Idris Ahmad, secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan and Muslimat chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh, it said.

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