SEREMBAN: Umno has never issued any directive to its state liaison committees to stop its political cooperation with PAS, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Umno deputy president said the state Umno liaison committees were free to continue collaborating with PAS.

       “The party leadership has not issued any directive on this.

       “As long as we can add value to a relationship, I don’t see why it has to be stopped,” he told reporters after opening the Rembau Umno annual general meeting here.

       Mohamad was asked to comment on a request by Selangor Umno that it be given the “autonomy” to continue its political cooperation with PAS under Muafakat Nasional in the state.

       He said the request had yet to be discussed by the party leadership.

       “Autonomy is a big word. We will ask Selangor Umno’s views. If you want to work with PAS, why is there a need for autonomy?

       “There is no instruction from the party for us to sever or review ties with PAS,” he added.

       Mohamad said Umno remained committed to the Muafakat Nasional charter signed with PAS in September last year to strengthen Malay unity.

       “Muafakat Nasional is not a registered political party but an understanding between both parties. It is a platform to strengthen cooperation between Umno and PAS,” he said.However, trouble emerged when PAS joined the Perikatan Nasional pact led by Bersatu.

       Mohamad said although PAS had contested under the Perikatan ticket in the Melaka election, ties between Umno and PAS remained cordial.

       “There is no issue between us. We have not severed ties,” he added.

       Asked on calls by some Umno divisions that the party polls be held before the general election, Mohamad said its supreme council which met on Wednesday, had determined that its top five leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, would decide what was best for the party.

       He added that Ismail Sabri had said it was not proper to hold the general election in the near future.

       “Now is the time for us to work on reviving the economy and fight the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

       He said the party election for the 2021/2023 term could be held in November next year, and must be held before the expiry of the current term, which is in December next year.

       “As such, elections at the branch level have to be held early, that is, in July at the latest,” he added.