PAS sudah tunjuk langkah – apa pula langkah Umno?

Presiden Umno, Zahid Hamidi, did not attend the PAS grand rally yesterday, likely due to concerns about receiving a direct message from PAS President Hadi Awang. It is possible that Zahid felt hurt if he did not attend, as Hadi's speech was likely intended to be delivered directly to him. Umno's Deputy Chief Secretary, Takiyuddin Hassan, informed the PAS grand rally that Zahid's presence was expected, but it is uncertain if he was present due to prior engagements or information about Hadi's speech.

Regardless of the reason, Zahid's absence leaves little room for cooperation between Umno and PAS, especially given PAS's emphasis on maintaining won seats and strengthening government administration in SG4 (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis). PAS President Hadi stated that these regions must remain under PAS control and that the agenda must follow Islamic principles within the state's jurisdiction.

Umno's prospects in these areas are slim, as Bersatu would likely win all contested seats. If PAS wins these seats, Umno would likely only have Terengganu's one parliamentary and five Dewan Undangan Negeri seats to contest in the 2016 PRU. The scenario may extend to other states, but analysis from James Chin from the University of Tasmania suggests that Umno is trying to weaken Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim despite claiming to support him until the end of the parliamentary term.

Anwar is reportedly working on a new alliance without Umno, and Chin predicts that the PH-BN relationship will become increasingly strained while Umno continues to oscillate. It remains to be seen how the Umno Supreme Council will react to the developments at the PAS grand rally. The PAU will convene from September 9 to 12, and it is notable that top PAS leadership is invited to the event.

It is clear that Hadi will attend, but his presence is uncertain. In summarizing the article, Umno appears to be involved in a contradictory approach, supporting PAS in some areas while opposing it in others, ultimately demonstrating the party's inconsistent behavior.