‘Pakatan Nasional not on agenda’

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa has denied that the Muafakat Nasional meeting, scheduled today, would discuss a proposed political alliance between Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Umno and Pas through “Pakatan Nasional”.

(NST) – Annuar, when asked by the New Straits Times whether the issue would be raised at the meeting, offered only a brief reply: “No, not on (the) agenda.”

Muafakat Nasional’s technical committee is slated to hold its meeting at 8pm today in Umno’s headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre.

According to sources, the meeting would focus on cooperation between Umno and Pas.

“Representatives from both parties will discuss current issues within the Muafakat Nasional cooperation’s context.”

Meanwhile, it was reported on Saturday that Pas would discuss the proposal to table a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the next parliamentary sitting in March, during the meeting.

Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the vote of confidence proposal had yet to be discussed with Umno.

He said this after attending the party’s National Welfare Convention in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.

On Saturday, Tuan Ibrahim in a press conference held at the party’s headquarters said Pas would table a vote of confidence in the prime minister in Parliament next month.

He said the move was necessary to address the current power transition turmoil involving Dr Mahathir, which had “disrupted political and economic stability”.

Pas has been consistent in its stand to support Dr Mahathir as prime minister and pledged that all 18 of its members of

parliament would back him if a vote of no confidence was taken in the Dewan Rakyat.

Dr Mahathir, in an interview with portal The Malaya Post, denied ever inviting Umno to form Pakatan Nasional.

The premier, instead, stressed that he was open to meet anyone, such as the opposition, to listen to their views.