PAS sets up committee to draft action plan for pact with Umno

PETALING JAYA: PAS has set up a special committee to draft a National Action Solidarity Plan to realise national unity (muafakat nasional) through the charter it signed with Umno during the weekend.

The committee is chaired by PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and its membership will comprise top leaders from the Islamist party.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the committee would come up with an action plan and road map based on the charter and memorandum signed with Umno to be implemented at all levels.

“All results of the studies and findings of this committee will be brought to the Umno-PAS negotiation committee to be approved, ” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 18).

The charter was signed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his PAS counterpart Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang at the culmination of the two-day Himpunan Penyatuan Ummah at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on Sep 14.

The charter, which is meant to signal a new “national unity” (muafakat nasional), touches on upholding and defending the Federal Constitution, strengthening national unity between all races and religions in Malaysia, empowering the Muslim and bumiputra agendas, and collectively working towards a country that championed inclusive growth and integrity.

The charter also agrees to form a cooperation by expanding the narrative of Islam and the Malay race without sidelining the multiracial and multicultural make-up of the country.

The last time Umno and PAS cooperated was during the 1974 general election when PAS candidates contested under the Barisan Nasional banner.

Umno’s signing of a political pact with PAS could potentially give the country’s largest Malay party a boost, following its loss of the Federal Government after the 14th General Election last year.

Pakatan Harapan leaders have criticised the pact as championing Malay-centric interests and accused it of sidelining other races.