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KOTA BHARU – Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was initially scheduled to attend the Ummah Unity Prayer Gathering organised by Pas this Friday, will be unable to attend due to an Umno programme in Melaka on the same date.
Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the matter was conveyed by Kelantan Umno liaison body deputy chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh during a meeting to discuss both parties’ participation in the event.
He said Zahid had initially been scheduled to deliver a speech alongside Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang at the gathering, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 people to Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium.
“He conveyed their president’s greetings and apologised because Umno has a major programme in Melaka on the 23rd of this month. The president said all the top leaders would be in Melaka.
“They will not be able to attend this Friday,” he said while speaking at the Kelantan 2026 Ummah Unity Gathering and Prayer Roadshow (Himpak) in Pasir Tumboh here on Tuesday.
Takiyuddin said Umno representatives had also expressed their intention to organise another ummah unity programme in Kelantan after the Melaka state election, with preparations to begin earlier through the formation of a joint committee.
He said Pas had accepted the proposal and hoped the Ummah Unity Prayer Gathering would still draw a large crowd despite the absence of Umno’s top leaders.
“Do not let Umno’s absence mean we fail to reach 100,000 people. Umno is not coming, and we end up with only 30,000. That must not happen.
“Make sure everyone turns up in large numbers to reach more than 100,000,” he said.
The programme is being held to mark 36 years of Pas rule in Kelantan since 1990.
