Stop day-dreaming, PAS told | The Star

PUTRAJAYA: PAS should stop day-dreaming about working with Umno again, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said his party would not want to work with PAS after what had happened between both parties earlier.

“Cooperation with PAS is not on the cards. They should just stop day-dreaming,” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of donations by Wanita Umno and 99 Speedmart Sdn Bhd to the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP), managed by the Foreign Ministry.

Ahmad Zahid said Umno has yet to be approached by PAS on the Umno-PAS cooperation.

He believes that PAS wanted to explore this possibility after the Islamist party had the experience of being part of the Federal Government.

“They must be feeling the pain as despite having many seats, PAS is in the Opposition.

“As of now, Allah has not opened our hearts for a cooperation with them,” he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister was asked to comment on reports which quoted PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as saying that his party was open to working with Umno again despite their “bitter” history.

He maintained that the party had never sidelined the agenda of fostering unity through the ummah (community).

However, any collaboration with Umno must be through the Perikatan Nasional platform, which includes Bersatu, said Tuan Ibrahim.

Umno and PAS joined forces after the 14th General Election, forming the Muafakat Nasional pact during their time in the Opposition.

However, tension escalated after PAS joined the Bersatu-led Perikatan, leading Umno to leave the Muafakat pact.

On another matter, Ahmad Zahid said supreme council member Isham Jalil should attend the party leadership meeting to allow him to explain his views.

He said Isham did not attend the supreme council meeting three times.

“We hope that he will have the courage to attend the meeting and voice his views. The party would like to hear what he has to say,” he added.

The Umno supreme council held its meeting last night.

Earlier, Isham, in his Facebook posting, cautioned the unity government not to treat the PAS victory in Kemaman lightly.

He said any attempt to downplay the loss would ultimately backfire and reveal a state of denial within the unity government.

Isham also said excessive praise or support for DAP should stop as it might lead to growing resentment among the Malays towards Umno.

At the handing over of donations event, Ahmad Zahid urged the people to use government platforms to channel contributions to the people of Palestine.

“The Foreign Ministry is the best platform to coordinate assistance to Gaza. The concern is that money collected by certain parties to aid Palestine is used for other purposes, including for administrative matters.

“This does not meet the aim, which is to help those facing atrocities in Gaza,” he said

Wanita Umno contributed RM621,954 while Speedmart donated RM200,000 to the fund.

Wisma Putra deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani accepted the contributions on behalf of the ministry.

Ahmad Zahid also said Malaysia’s third shipment of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians weighing 60 tonnes would be flown on Dec 18.