Pas-Umno unity possible if parties willing to compromise on seats, says Pas spiritual leader

Political cooperation between the two largest Malay-based parties, Pas and Umno, can be achieved if they compromise on seat allocations ahead of the 16th General Election, according to Pas spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin. Unity between the two parties is not a new concept, as they have cooperated in the past, and Malay voters desire the partnership to continue.

Hashim believes that the unity can be realized through sincerity and a willingness to make sacrifices, particularly regarding seat distribution for GE16. He asserts that while seat allocation may not pose a significant issue, the key lies in both parties being genuine in their cooperation and ready to make compromises. Hashim emphasizes that Pas has consistently sacrificed in previous collaborations, and this close relationship to leading the coalition is a result of those sacrifices.

He is confident that the public has long awaited a partnership between the two largest Malay-Muslim political parties, and the current political climate strongly necessitates their collaboration. The 72nd Pas Muktamar in Kelantan recently prioritized Muslim unity as the primary agenda heading into GE16, signaling Pas's commitment to strengthening political cooperation centered around Malay-Muslim interests.

However, Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has insisted that the party must defend all the seats it won in the last general election, deeming giving away potential winning seats to other parties as foolish. Hashim advises resolving internal friction within Pas in Perlis as soon as possible, urging the central leadership to address the root cause of the issue, which has been raised for a considerable time.