PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called for the revival of Muafakat Nasional (MN) with a fresh line-up that includes leaders from Umno, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s “Reset” camp and other Malay-based parties.
He said a new-look MN could be what was needed to “unite the ummah”.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman, said he believed that reviving the alliance, which he dubbed “MN 2.0”, could help to realise such efforts.
“Personally, I am more in favour of mobilising MN 2.0 in a new form.
“Perhaps this time, it needs to be open to the ‘Reset’ group (Hamzah’s team), Umno and even other parties, such as Pejuang, Berjasa, Iman and Perkasa,” the Kubang Kerian member of parliament told the New Straits Times.
MN began as a political cooperation pact in 2019 between Umno and Pas to unite Malay voters against the then-ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.
The alliance was dissolved in 2022 following ideological clashes and after Umno joined the unity government.
Tuan Ibrahim said such a “grand coalition” should not be limited to the peninsula, and should welcome participation from parties in Sabah and Sarawak.
However, he said his suggestions were his personal views and that it should be discussed within Pas if the party planned to address the matter.
Tuan Ibrahim was speaking before the party’s syura council meeting today, which would be chaired by Pas spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin and attended by senior leaders, including party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Sources said among the agenda were the status of Pas’ future with its PN partner Bersatu, as well as its position within the opposition alliance.
It is understood that the Pas central committee, after deliberating the issue, had left it to the syura council to decide on the matter.
The syura council is the party’s highest-ranking body, determining its policies, direction and matters pertaining to its constitution.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim was also asked to comment on Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s suggestion that the party leave PN and go solo in future elections.
Tuan Ibrahim said each party should be free to determine its own future if mutual understanding no longer existed and leaders continued to attack one another publicly.
“Personally, I support this and believe that if there is no understanding and parties continue attacking one another, then every party is free to make decisions regarding its own future,” he said.
Ties between the two PN partners came under the spotlight recently after Hadi questioned Bersatu’s recent leadership purges and internal decisions, accusing the party of weakening PN, violating coalition trust and prompting a review of their political cooperation ahead of the 16th General Election.
