No seat for Pakatan at annual Umno assembly, but PAS gets red carpet

KUALA LUMPUR, September 7 — The ruling party Umno will not extend an invitation to its coalition partner Pakatan Harapan (PH) for its upcoming general assembly, scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday. Instead, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that PAS will be invited as a reciprocal gesture following its invitation to PAS's 72nd congress in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

"There's give and take. If they invite us, we invite them," Zahid said according to Utusan Malaysia. The decision to invite PAS was made by consensus during a supreme council meeting, as announced by Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. Zahid clarified that the assembly this year will not decide on cooperation with any coalition, especially ahead of the 16th general election.

Discussions would instead focus on the potential benefits and risks of such cooperation to Umno and Barisan Nasional. "Society wants Malays to champion Malay unity — not just within Umno, but across Malay parties," Zahid said, quoted by Utusan Malaysia. He emphasized his desire for Malay unity, not just within Malay parties, but as a whole.