Johor polls right time to revive MN, PAS No 2 tells Umno

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says cooperation between the two largest Malay-Muslim parties is needed to usher in a new political realignment.

Tuan Ibrahim said cooperation between the country’s two largest Malay-Muslim parties was needed and that the state polls could usher in a new political realignment.

He described the upcoming state election as an opportunity to rebuild Malay-Muslim political strength and expand Bumiputera political influence across Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“All of this can only be achieved with consensus and tolerance among the country’s major Malay-Muslim political parties,” he said in a statement.

“Efforts to establish Malay-Muslim unity must be expedited, starting with the Johor election … now is the time for the Muafakat Nasional 2.0 to be realised.”

The MN alliance between Umno and PAS was formalised in 2019 when Pakatan Harapan was leading the government. The pact eventually fell apart after PAS formed Perikatan Nasional with Bersatu the following year.

After the 2022 general election ended in a hung Parliament, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional formed the unity government with PH.

However, BN is going solo in the Johor state election, setting up clashes with both its federal ally and PN.

Tuan Ibrahim said several issues affecting Malays and Muslims required serious attention, including the Unified Examination Certificate, the authority of the Malay rulers, and legal challenges to state shariah enactments.

The PN deputy chairman said the division among Malay political parties and the failure to unite the Malays politically had contributed to these challenges.

“This should open the eyes of Malay political leaders, especially PAS and Umno, to act immediately before it is too late,” he said, adding that Islam must be the foundation for Malay political unity.

“Malay political parties have stood together before in the nation’s history,” he said, citing the formation of BN after the May 13 riots in 1969 and the establishment of MN during the PH government.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS hoped that all major parties, particularly Malay-based parties, would seriously consider setting aside their differences and prioritising the future of the community.

“God willing, when Malay-Muslims are united, we will be strong and able to protect the rights of everyone,” he said.