‘No merger between Umno and PAS, only cooperation’

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa has clarified that there is no merger between Umno and PAS but merely political cooperation between the nation’s two largest Malay parties.

He said the proposal made by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to PAS had been misinterpreted and had caused some confusion.

“It was not meant to be a merger but a cooperation. We want to work together, not combine parties.

“The party president cannot simply say we want to merge off the cuff.

“The president must refer to the party’s supreme council first and then discuss with Barisan Nasional component parties,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said whether MCA should remain in Barisan or leave the coalition will be decided by its central delegates during the party's annual general assembly on Dec 2.

Asked if there was any discussion with the party’s supreme council on the matter, Annuar said this does not arise as it had been discussed before.

“Umno’s supreme council has given the green light for the party to cooperate with PAS on issues of common interest.

“It has been agreed upon and we are implementing it. I am stating here that our cooperation with PAS is in stages.

“It is getting better on many common issues, but we are not merging,” said Annuar.

The Ketereh MP said the possibility of Umno merging with PAS was remote and just a strategy.

“As I have pointed out before, if we talk about merger, we never rule out merging with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

“It is more natural as both parties share the same traits and are bumiputra-based.

“And the leadership is almost similar but there is a fallout due to certain reasons but there could be a possibility,” he said.

At a separate press conference, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin said the cooperation with PAS should not be formalised.

“I don’t think it can happen.

“We have fundamental differences and we can cooperate on certain issues and tactical matters but not in a formal cooperation or a merger.

“For example, we agree on things like (not ratifying) the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD),” he said.

As I have pointed out before, if we talk about merger, we never rule out merging with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. It is more natural as both parties share the same traits and are bumiputra-based. Tan Sri Annuar Musa