Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has invited PAS to cooperate with Umno in strengthening Muslim unity following reports that the Islamic party is reassessing its alliance with Bersatu.
In a Facebook post, Asyraf said PAS could work together with Umno through the “Rumah Bangsa” initiative, which aims to unite the Malay community.
“Let’s build the country together,” he said.
PAS reviewing ties with Bersatu
Earlier, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party was reviewing its relationship with Bersatu, including the possibility of contesting the next general election without the party led by Muhyiddin Yassin.
Relations between PAS and Bersatu became strained following the political developments in Perlis, where a Bersatu assemblyman replaced a PAS elected representative as menteri besar.
Hadi’s remarks came a day after PAS treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad suggested that cooperation involving PAS, Pejuang, Berjasa and the Reset movement could become the “most stable platform” for advancing the Malay-Muslim agenda.
The Reset movement has been linked to former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.
Hadi previously rejected Rumah Bangsa initiative
In March, Hadi rejected the possibility of PAS joining Umno’s Rumah Bangsa initiative, arguing that Islam was not the central foundation of the movement.
He also alluded to Umno’s cooperation with DAP in the unity government.
Hadi said PAS remained committed to working only with allies it trusted and who would not obstruct what he described as the party’s Islamic struggle.
He also accused Umno of aligning itself with any political partner capable of helping the party regain power.
Collapse of Muafakat Nasional
Malaysia’s two largest Malay-based parties previously formed Muafakat Nasional in 2019 to consolidate Malay-Muslim political support.
However, PAS later chose to cooperate with Bersatu in forming Perikatan Nasional after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government and Muhyiddin’s appointment as prime minister in 2020.
Umno viewed the move as a betrayal.
PAS also insisted that Bersatu be included in Muafakat Nasional, a proposal rejected by Umno.
The political pact eventually ended in December 2022, after Umno backed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
