Only several individuals reject MN – Pas leader

Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) with Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang during the unity gathering on September 14, 2019 (inset: Hashim).

SHAH ALAM – In reality, majority of Umno and Pas grassroots highly appreciate the unity collaboration between the two Malay parties through the Muafakat Nasional (MN), says Pas Mursyidul Am Datuk Hashim Jasin.

However, the former Perlis Pas Commissioner claimed that only a ‘few’ Umno leaders are staunchly rejecting the revival of MN cooperation.

He said that this was because some top Umno leaders prioritise personal political interests over the interests of the ummah (community).

He said Pas consistently advocates the agenda of ummah unity because it is not a slogan created by the party or anyone else; instead, it is a command from Allah SWT to the Muslim community.

“In achieving the agenda of ummah unity, why can’t we set aside party and personal interests? Is Umno more willing to follow the party’s wishes or Allah SWT’s wishes?

“Regarding MN, only Umno leaders are unwilling. Meanwhile, their grassroots still hope for Umno-Pas cooperation to continue as it did after the MN charter was signed in 2019.

“For me, Umno should not openly reject the effort of ummah unity, which is commanded by Allah SWT and earnestly implemented by Pas,” he told Sinar Premium on Monday.

He made these remarks in response to the statement by Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who described Pas’ suggestion to revive cooperation between the two parties through MN as insincere.

The Deputy Prime Minister alleged that Pas, having exited MN, did so not because they stabbed the party from the back but because they were stabbed by the party and faced more challenges than agreed upon through the MN charter.

Previously, Hashim, when speaking to Sinar Premium, expressed confidence that MN relations between Umno-Pas could be rekindled in the run-up to the 16th General Election (PRU16).

For the record, MN is a collaboration formed on September 14, 2019, following the unity gathering.

Elaborating further, Hashim emphasised that Umno should not accuse Pas of stabbing them in the back by inviting Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to join MN.

“I think Umno understands that the MN agreement does not impose any conditions that Umno or Pas cannot be with others, as long as the party that joins has the same goal to uphold the implementation of Islamic policies.

“That’s why Pas accepted the intentions of Bersatu and Gerakan to join this party. This is because they respect the agenda of ummah unity we bring, not preventing us from implementing Islamic law.

“In the meantime, we also do not disrupt their struggle and do not interfere with their non-Muslim ideology,” he said.

Regarding Pas’ suggestion to join the unity government to strengthen the voice of Malay Muslim leadership in the government, Hashim revealed that the bitter experience of ‘befriending’ DAP, which did not respect Pas’ struggle agenda, led the party to reject the idea.

He clarified that DAP’s direction of struggle and ideology was clearly different from Gerakan with the ultimate goal of the party entirely conflicting with the interests of Malay Muslims.

“Although they have touted the slogan of emulating the Islamic rule of Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz, in practice, DAP has never practiced the ideology and agenda of the friendly parties,” he said.

Despite Umno’s rejection of the idea of reviving MN, Hashim expressed confidence that the Ummah Unity agenda could still become a reality as long as Pas itself has never considered it cancelled.

“Pas has never closed the door for Umno to revive MN. I believe one day Umno leaders will realise that MN and the ummah unity agenda are the only way out to solve the current administration crisis in the country,” he added.