Pakatan says no hard feelings after Umno leaves it off 2026 annual assembly guest list

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has expressed no displeasure over Umno's decision to omit the coalition from the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2026. Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar stated that PH would not take offence nor pressure Umno into including PH in the assembly. However, he questioned Umno's rationale for not inviting PH while extending an invitation to PAS, an opposition party.

Mahfuz said he did not know Umno's intention behind excluding PH and inviting PAS, adding that it was up to Umno whether to invite PH or not as it was their party's affair. Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier revealed that PH was not invited to PAU 2026 and that if an invitation had been extended, PH would not have sent a representative.

Mahfuz said PH would continue to prepare for various possibilities, including cooperation in the Melaka state election and the 16th General Election. Meanwhile, PKR Youth deputy chief Nabil Halimi said PKR respected Umno's decision and would focus on governing the country until the end of the term while restructuring Malaysia's economy.

He assured that PKR and PH would continue to cooperate despite PH not being invited to the assembly.