PETALING JAYA: Several Umno leaders have come out to deny claims that the party is in discussions with PAS to form an alliance for the next general election, according to reports.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said he did not know of such discussions as claimed by PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
He said even if such discussions took place, they were only between members or supporters of the two parties.
A Malay daily had earlier reported PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari as claiming that Umno leaders had met PAS several times to discuss on a possible alliance for the next general election.
He said the meetings were "informal" and "involved the top leadership of both parties".
Fadhli also claimed that in one of the meetings, they (Umno leaders) hoped that the party would go back to working with PAS but they were too afraid to go against their president's decision.
Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii also denied that there was such formal negotiations, describing Fadhli as promoting false narratives.
Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously said the coalition's cooperation with Pakatan Harapan would continue in the next general election.
