Umno Youth to study cooperation with Pas
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth will form a task force to study the alliance and cooperation between the party and Pas.
The task force will be headed by Umno Youth deputy chief Shahril Suffian Hamdan.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the task force would study feedback from party members, the type and scope of cooperation, as well as methods and formulas, with Pas.
He said some people in Umno and Pas would not be happy with the cooperation.
“We can’t expect magic to happen as Umno and Pas have been separated for the past 41 years.
“But I agree that this is a positive step.”
He said Umno Youth would invite and have discussions with Barisan Nasional component parties on this cooperation.
Asyraf said the wing’s priority and agenda were to strengthen the party and its members.
“We will have to find the right formula to do this in the coming general assembly,” he said, noting that talks on forging a formal alliance with Pas were premature.
He said this after chairing the third Umno Youth executive council meeting at Menara Dato Onn here yesterday.
On Sunday, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had said the party would engage Umno to forge a cooperation.
He said the party’s Ulama Syura Council would discuss the scope of cooperation with Umno, but would not rush into making any decision.
On Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s declaration that he would support PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Port Dickson byelection, Asyraf said while he respected freedom of expression, there were limits.
On whether Umno would take action against Nazri, he said: “There are procedures and rules in the party.
“If it is deemed fit, action will be taken, but it is up to the party leadership.”
On the Umno general assembly this month, he said it would be important for the wing as the party was in the opposition.
Discussions, he said, would revolve around how the party remained relevant.
“We need to find the right direction and format as we are the opposition.”
He said the general assembly would serve as a preparation for the next general election, on how the party could regain the support of the grassroots and people.
The general assembly will be held from Sept 29 to 30.
About 1,000 members from the executive council and divisions will attend.