Bersatu expected to join Muafakat Nasional

Bersatu is expected to join the Muafakat Nasional pact amidst apprehension among Umno's grassroots over the conviction against Najib Abdul Razak on seven charges of corruption.

According to several sources, the decision was arrived at during a meeting yesterday between Umno and PAS MPs with Bersatu president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Parliament.

Sources told Malaysiakini that the meeting was held to discuss how the three parties were to work together in the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition in the wake of the verdict.

"The meeting with the PM (yesterday) afternoon was (for us) to determine his position on (Bersatu's) cooperation with BN and Umno.

"The PM had given his commitment to work together with BN and Umno, especially in facing the 15th general election (GE15).

"Muhyiddin also stated that Bersatu would join Muafakat to smoothen GE15 preparations, including seat allocations," claimed a source.

On Tuesday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court handed Najib a RM210 million fine and jail sentence totalling 72 years, of which only 12 needs to be served because the sentences were to run concurrently.

Najib - a former Umno president and former prime minister - was convicted for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust for pocketing RM42 million which originated from state-owned SRC International, a subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

Immediately after the verdict was delivered, Najib's supporters who had gathered outside court demanded that Parliament be dissolved and that Umno withdrew support for PN.

Umno's withdrawal unlikely

Virtually all Umno's top leaders have not publicly expressed similar sentiments, but Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi promised that his party would make a "political decision" in response to the ruling.

This has sparked speculation that Umno was mulling pulling out from PN before more court verdicts are delivered against Umno leaders currently on trial, which include Zahid.

When contacted, Zahid dismissed suggestions that Umno was leaving PN.

He said the meeting yesterday resolved to "strengthen" Muafakat Nasional, and reiterated that Umno will remain in PN.

Muafakat Nasional was formalised in September 2019, primarily for the two traditional rivals, Umno and PAS, to devise strategies against Pakatan Harapan following their GE14 defeat.

When asked if Bersatu would be merging with Umno, Zahid replied in the negative.

Instead, Muafakat will be making an announcement on the deal yesterday.

"Muafakat leaders will make an announcement when the time is right," said Zahid.

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