It's PAS that is the stumbling block to Malay unity, says Umno supreme council member

PETALING JAYA: An Umno supreme council member took PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin to task, saying the Islamist party was the reason for the strained relationship between the parties.

Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii said PAS was blinded by government positions and benefits and would rather be with Perikatan Nasional, although its grassroots wanted to be with Umno.

"It is those with positions and rewards who are the stumbling block to the unity of the ummah and should keep quiet rather than attack Umno," Mohd Razlan was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini, in response to Khairil Nizam blaming Umno's "court cluster" for being the stumbling block to unity between both parties.

Khairil Nizam also blamed Umno for triggering the Melaka and Johor snap elections, saying the court cluster was also responsible for the fall of the Perikatan Nasional government.

Mohd Razlan, however, said the Melaka government would not have collapsed if Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had not enticed defectors to form a new government.

"Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bought PAS' allegiance with positions while Umno and PAS grassroots continue to struggle for the ummah," Mohd Razlan added.

Umno is bent on going it alone with Barisan Nasional in the coming Johor election with PAS aligning itself to Perikatan.

A similar tie-up happened during the Melaka state election.