Hadi to Zahid: We’re family now, let’s win the people’s trust
With the formalisation of the Umno-PAS charter today, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang offered an olive branch to their new found ally; join the PAS-led state governments in Kelantan and Terengganu.
“There are definitely plans. Umno is family now,” said Hadi during a press conference after Umno and PAS signed the joint charter at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today.
The Perhimpunan Penyatuan Ummah was held at the PWTC, Umno’s headquarters, over the past two days and the joint charter between Umno and PAS were signed this afternoon.
More than 30,000 people attended the momentous event today, packing the building to the brim and causing difficulty to walk around.
The crowd also spilt outside the building. However, the complex management has set up screens and speakers to allow attendees to listen to their leaders’ speeches.
Hadi, who is also Marang MP, said that Umno and PAS still has a long way to go; in terms of gaining people’s trust in the pact.
He also said he was elated to be able to speak at the PWTC today as he was only used to speaking to a PAS crowd in the past.
“Today, I get the chance to speak to both PAS and Umno supporters,” he said.
Asked whether the highly respected late Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat would be happy with the Umno-PAS unity pact, Hadi said the former PAS spiritual leader would be delighted.
“Taawun (Cooperation) is a phrase that was discussed with Nik Aziz back when he was alive because our cooperation in the 1970s was tahalluf (coalition).
“We need to introduce this new approach which is cooperation. That was what we discussed in the in the syura council when Nik Aziz was still alive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was too early to talk about electoral seat negotiations and PAS’ offer to join its state governments at this juncture.
“That we will have to wait till we come to it. Let’s see the future developments,” he said.
Whether Umno’s fellow Barisan Nasional 9BN) component parties MCA and MIC are agreeable to this new cooperation, Zahid said there were no objections from the two parties so far, adding the matter would be formalised in the next BN supreme council meeting.
MCA and MIC have sent their representatives to attend the Perhimpunan Penyatuan Ummah over the last two days.
The formalisation of Umno and PAS’ cooperation is a historic milestone as it marks the first time the two bitter rivals working together since the 1970s.
