A 13-page letter purportedly sent by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to PAS leaders has revealed that Perikatan Nasional (PN) held a series of discussions with Umno over efforts to unseat Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.
The letter, dated May 25, stated that several rounds of discussions involving PAS, Bersatu and Umno took place before 14 Umno-Barisan Nasional assemblymen announced their withdrawal of support for Aminuddin’s administration.
Meetings held before withdrawal of support
According to the letter, one meeting was held at Bersatu headquarters on April 24 and involved PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and three PAS assemblymen, as well as Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali and two Bersatu assemblymen.
The gathering reportedly included the signing of statutory declarations.
The letter said discussions continued later that day with Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias and several Umno assemblymen. During the meeting, it was agreed that Umno’s 14 assemblymen would first withdraw support for the menteri besar before the five PN assemblymen publicly declared their position.
“This is in order to avoid accusations that PN was involved in a ‘backdoor’ move to topple the unity government in Negeri Sembilan. The PN assemblymen would then monitor subsequent developments,” the letter stated.
On April 27, Negeri Sembilan Umno held a press conference announcing that its assemblymen had withdrawn support for Aminuddin, citing a loss of confidence in his handling of a dispute involving four chieftains and an attempt to remove the state’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
PN says support for Umno was conditional
The letter stated that Takiyuddin and Azmin travelled to Seremban on the same day to discuss a common position with the five PN assemblymen aimed at maintaining political stability in the state.
Subsequently, Negeri Sembilan PN announced its readiness to work with Umno’s 14 assemblymen to form a new state government and ensure stability.
However, the letter stressed that Bersatu had never agreed to provide unconditional support to Umno or its president.
It stated that any cooperation with Umno would only be considered if the party ended its ties with Pakatan Harapan.
“That was why the jointly agreed statement merely expressed a willingness to cooperate with the 14 Umno assemblymen to form a stable government and protect the welfare of the people of Negeri Sembilan,” the letter said.
PAS response highlighted in correspondence
The letter also detailed a series of communications between Azmin and Takiyuddin following developments in the state.
On April 28, Azmin reportedly contacted Takiyuddin to continue discussions on the political situation, but the PAS secretary-general was said to have prior commitments in Kota Bharu.
The following day, after reports emerged that the 14 Umno assemblymen had decided to remain aligned with the Pakatan Harapan-led state government, Azmin again sought Takiyuddin’s views.
According to the letter, Bersatu’s political bureau concluded that continued cooperation between the five PN assemblymen and the 14 Umno assemblymen was no longer appropriate.
“Azmin conveyed the position of the party’s political bureau that PN should withdraw its support for the 14 Umno assemblymen. However, no response was received from Takiyuddin,” the letter stated.
On April 30, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that all Umno representatives in Negeri Sembilan would continue supporting the state unity government and had no intention of taking over the administration or forming a new government through undemocratic means.
The letter said Azmin subsequently contacted Takiyuddin again on April 30 and proposed that PN issue a statement declaring that its five assemblymen were withdrawing support for the Umno representatives.
According to the correspondence, Takiyuddin said the proposal would be discussed at a PAS leadership meeting on May 5 and that a response would be provided afterwards. The letter claimed that no response was subsequently received.
The issue involving the withdrawal of support for Umno by Bersatu assemblymen from Gemas and Labu was later cited by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as one of the reasons behind dissatisfaction within PAS regarding its relationship with Bersatu.
FMT has sought comments from Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz on the matter.
Muhyiddin said yesterday that he had received PAS’s reply letter and would present it to Bersatu’s Supreme Council for consideration.
