Najib: PAS showing encouraging signs working with Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has shown encouraging signs of possible collaboration with Umno as seen from some of their actions, said Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib, who is also the Prime Minister said, one of the positive signals was when PAS did not reject the Supply Bill 2016 at the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 16 which was an encouraging sign towards cooperation between the two Malay parties.

"In voting for the budget they abstained from voting against the budget.

"Although they did not vote in our favour, they did not reject it either. These are encouraging signs to me," he said in an interview in conjunction with the Umno general assembly.

Najib believed this was in adhering to PAS' Islamic principles which forbade any action to topple a government, in a way which is not allowed by Islam.

"This includes street demonstrations and so on. So what were voiced by PAS leaders were in line with the principles of Islam," he said.

During the vote on the Supply Bill in November, six PAS members abstained from voting in Parliament - Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Bharu), Nik Mohd Abduh Nik Aziz (PAS-Pasir Mas), Nasaruddin Hassan (PAS-Temerloh), Idris Ahmad (PAS-Bukit Gantang), Marzuki Shaari (PAS-Bachok) and Dr Izani Hussin (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa).

Four other Pas members of Parliament, including PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang did not attend the afternoon Parliament session that day.

Najib added that statements made by Abdul Hadi and spiritual leader, Datuk Dr Haron Din had also shown positive signs towards a collaboration.

Abdul Hadi had on several occasions been seen to be supporting Umno, among them not rejecting the cabinet reshuffle last July and supporting Najib to not succumb to pressure to resign as prime minister. - Bernama