Two prominent Umno figures have rebuked PAS for continually raising the possibility of reviving the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact between the two Malay-dominated parties. Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, a member of Umno's Supreme Council, asserted that Umno has firmly put an end to discussions regarding MN's revival. He accused PAS of attempting to sow discord within the unity government by persistently bringing up the matter. Puad emphasized that Umno has moved on and urged PAS to join the unity government if it is genuinely interested in cooperating.
Highlighting an incident involving the housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming's proposal, which was abandoned due to opposition from Umno, Puad suggested that PAS, if in Umno's position within the government, would likely remain silent to maintain conformity. He underscored Umno's familiarity with PAS's political strategies and its comfort within the current federal government setup.
Echoing similar sentiments, Umno Youth chief Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh emphasized that discussions about the importance of Islam and Malay unity should not solely revolve around the success of MN. He stressed the need for initiatives aimed at Malay-Muslim unity to transcend politically mixed platforms like MN. Muhamad advocated for Malay parties, both in the government and opposition bloc, to prioritize defending the interests of Islam, the Malay race, and royal institutions.
Muhamad emphasized the importance of Malay parties, including Umno, Parti Amanah Negara, PKR, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, and even Malay leaders within DAP, uniting to advocate for Malay and Islamic interests, especially if there are numerous coalition partners in the government. He suggested that PAS and other opposition parties play a vital role as vigilant agents scrutinizing the government and parties promoting extremist racial agendas.
These statements were made in response to PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Hashim Jasin's hint at the potential revival of the Umno-PAS relationship through MN before the 16th General Election. Hashim expressed PAS's openness to reestablishing ties with Umno, provided Umno cuts its connections with DAP. He noted the previous progress of the MN agenda, which garnered strong grassroots support, but was hindered by Umno's reluctance to accept Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Formerly a collaboration between PAS and Umno, MN was declared defunct ahead of the 15th general election. Its name has since been adopted by an unrelated non-governmental organization led by former Umno leader Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
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