KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is likely to focus its negotiations with PAS rather than Perikatan Nasional as it weighs its options for the next general election, the party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says.
He said this was in line with views raised by delegates during the 2026 Umno General Assembly, which showed a tendency to engage directly with the PAS leadership rather than negotiate with Perikatan as a whole.
“As in the previous election, we did hold negotiations with PAS and Perikatan. However, based on the debates among the delegates, there appears to be a tendency for us to focus on negotiations with the PAS leadership rather than looking at Perikatan as a whole.
“In this context, the negotiations will, of course, take into account the views raised at the general assembly,” he said in a press conference in conjunction with the 2026 Umno General Assembly on Saturday (Sept 12).
When asked whether the negotiations would be led by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Asyraf said a negotiating committee would be formed by the party leadership.
Meanwhile, commenting on Ahmad Zahid’s call that the 16th General Election should be brought forward, Asyraf said Umno believed the time was right for an election, although the current five-year term had not yet ended.
“From Umno’s perspective, as we have seen from the debates among the delegates, the time has come for a general election, although the five-year term has not yet ended.
“The period after five years is the period during which a general election can be held.
“As mentioned by the president and delegates from the party’s wings at the general assembly, as a responsible government or party, whatever major plans the party intends to undertake and present to the people, it is only appropriate that we give the people the mandate to choose,” he said.
