Muafakat Nasional derailed by PAS, says Tok Mat

(FMT) – Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has pointed his finger at PAS for the position Muafakat Nasional (MN) is currently in – “standing on its last legs” – saying this only happened after the Islamic party decided to remain with Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat, said it was unfair to put the blame on Umno.

He said PAS had refused to cooperate with Umno during the Melaka state election last year, after being asked to contest using its own logo and not under PN’s banner.

“The truth is, we (Umno) have never ditched them (PAS). They are the ones who broke ties with MN and were inconsistent.

“They say we betrayed MN but they are the ones who contested under PN’s banner. This is why when people ask me about MN, I say the alliance has little chance of surviving,” Utusan Malaysia reported him as saying.

Mohamad said Umno was not upset with PAS’s decision to join PN but Umno should not be blamed for the fate of the pact.

“That’s their right and their choice. But that is the reason MN is failing,” he said.

Last month, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said MN remained intact unless Umno officially declared its dissolution, which the party had yet to do.

Mohamad also said Umno needed to remain firm in correcting the perception of those who see Umno as the cause for MN’s troubles.

“The question of whether Umno left or betrayed MN does not arise,” he said. “We have never said we left MN. The only thing we’ve said is that if you (PAS) want to return to MN, then return alone. Don’t bring someone new with you.”