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Mahfuz: Umno-PAS trade-off 'possible' if either party under threat

Amid claims of a purported PAS-Umno cooperation for the next general election, Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said it could be a possible scenario if any one of the parties felt its position was being threatened.

“I don’t know on what basis Umno will hand over Kedah to PAS, but I can say that in politics, anything is possible,” Mahfuz told Malaysiakini when contacted for comments on the claims made by former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

“If Umno-BN feels threatened, and PAS also feels threatened in Kelantan if the two parties are fighting for the same votes, then the solution would be as suggested by Mukhriz,” said Mahfuz.

He argued that this was because PAS, on its own, would be fighting with Umno for the support of Malay voters.

In his first press conference yesterday after being sacked from Umno, Mukhriz said he suspected an Umno-PAS deal for GE14, which could see a "trade-off" involving Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.

While Mukhriz did not elaborate on his suspicions, he insisted the purported deal would see Umno handing over these three state administrations to PAS in the 14th general election.

'Mukhriz spreading slander'

However, Kedah PAS accused Mukhriz of spreading slander by raising concerns over the alleged cooperation.

Kedah PAS commissioner Ahmad Fakhruddin Sheikh Fakhrurazi in a statement described Mukhriz’s allegations as “shallow” and an attempt to spread propaganda, adding that it was unbecoming of a politician who once held the menteri besar’s post.

“The fact is that the people who toppled you (Mukhriz) from the menteri besar’s post are from (Kedah menteri besar) Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah’s camp, who claimed that weaknesses in your administration would provide PAS with the opportunity to take over Kedah.

“Surely it would be impossible for these people who killed your political career to suddenly give away Kedah to PAS?”

“Kedah PAS has never initiated or accepted any such attempts, nor entered into any agreement as claimed, until it appears the state administration could be cut up and divided like kuih bengkang,” said Ahmad Fakhruraz.

He also said PAS was looking to seek a stronger mandate from the people via the right democratic means.

“The right way would be (for PAS) to contest in all seats where Umno is contesting (in GE14) until we can bring down Umno-BN from the state administrations and Putrajaya.

“PAS takes the stand that Umno is a liability that must be rejected. The sins of Umno are too heavy to be carried and Malaysia must be saved,” said the Kedah Dewan Ulama chief.

Ahmad Fakhruddin also advised Mukhriz to act in a more professional manner and focus on his responsibilities as an assemblyperson.

“You no longer need to be a puppet or a fortune teller,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kulim Bandar Baru MP Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir said that he would support any form of political cooperation to unite all Malaysians and Malays in particular.

“It would also contribute to political stability, the main thrust for Malaysia to become a developed nation.

“Umno and PAS must put the nation’s interest above any political agenda,” he told Malaysiakini via text message.

Top PAS leaders have in the past denied rumours of a formal cooperation with Umno but insisted that the party was now practising matured politics where it would support all things good and reject what was bad for the people.

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