Umno and PAS to ink cooperation charter on Sept 14

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his PAS counterpart Abdul Hadi Awang will ink a cooperation charter (piagam muafakat) between the two parties on Sept 14.

According to Umno Online, a joint statement by the secretaries-general of both parties said Umno and PAS have finalised the charter and memorandum of understanding, crafted by a joint committee.

The signing ceremony will take place at the Umno headquarters in the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

The two biggest Malay parties formed an alliance following the last general election, which saw Pakatan Harapan defeating Umno and BN, which governed the nation for the last six decades.

The election also witnessed Harapan sweeping numerous states in the Peninsular, including Johor, which is the birthplace of Umno. Harapan's ally Warisan conquered Sabah.

At present, Umno and BN control the states of Pahang and Perlis whereas PAS, Terengganu and Kelantan.

Umno and BN have 40 MPs, including Cameron Highlands' Ramli Mohd Nor, who contested the seat as a BN direct candidate. PAS has 18.

Prior to the election, BN had 13 component parties but this has since been reduced to three – Umno, MCA and MIC.

Yesterday, Zahid said the Umno supreme council unanimously agreed to cooperate with PAS based on the principle of 'taawun siyasi' (political cooperation).

The Umno president added that the parties are willing to work with others, but not those who have a relationship with DAP.

"There will be no negotiation with any party in Harapan as long as they share the power with DAP,” he said, adding that Umno rejects DAP's 'Malaysian Malaysia' agenda.