Tok Mat to PAS: Prove your sincerity, hold election in Terengganu

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has proposed holding an election in Terengganu, a state led by the Islamic party PAS, as evidence of their sincerity in promoting Malay unity. Should Umno and PAS reach an agreement on seat negotiations in Terengganu, the same approach could potentially be applied in future general elections. This comes after Umno suffered a significant setback in the 2023 Terengganu state election, failing to secure any of the 27 contested seats, and not winning a single seat in the 2022 parliamentary election.

The proposal aims to test the sincerity of PAS, with Mahathir suggesting they divide parliamentary seats between their parties if Umno's intentions are genuine. Umno's inability to adopt a uniform electoral strategy across different states, as each political landscape is unique, was also highlighted by Mahathir. For instance, in the recent Negeri Sembilan polls, the party tailored its approach to avoid inter-Malay party clashes due to previous electoral setbacks in the state.

The matter has been complicated further with Umno and PAS previously forming an electoral pact for the Negeri Sembilan polls, winning 26 out of the 36 seats, but the alliance's future remains uncertain following conflicting statements.