Yet again the suggestion that Umno and PAS work together for Muslim unity was reiterated today, with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin saying the partnership was necessary to address bigger issues facing the Muslim community.
The Umno deputy president said Muslim unity would require political stability, and this included addressing issues with the Islamic opposition party.
Despite PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat rejecting any attempts to work together with Umno, Muhyiddin said there have been calls by Muslim political leaders for more cooperation between both parties.
“As far as Umno is concerned, we have no problems with that. We want to see if we can work together,” he told at a question-and-answer session with students at the International Islamic University in Gombak.
Nik Aziz, in slamming the door on unity talks with Umno, had said: “I would not allow it, for as long as I am still alive, I will not permit any effort for cooperation between PAS and Umno.”
Talk of collaboration to foster Muslim unity has been refuted by PAS loyalists since 2008. The party has instead accused Umno of using such talks to mask its unity government plan.
According to Muhyiddin, the country needs a united Muslim community.
“And to achieve that, the country needs political stability. We get calls that Umno and PAS need to work together.
“Muslims have yet to achieve the level of development that the government had set,” he said. – September 17, 2013.
