K'tan Umno terminates Muafakat ties, but PAS says status quo until GE15

Kelantan Umno has decided to cut ties with PAS effective immediately.

However, PAS claimed ties with Umno in Kelantan will be maintained until the 15th general election (GE15).

Speaking at a press conference today, Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said the decision to sever ties with PAS was made after taking into account various aspects including the latter's relationship with Bersatu.

However, he said Kelantan Umno will remain on friendly terms with the PAS-led state government as long as the Islamist party's MPs continue supporting Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the federal level.

"We respect PAS' decision to remain in Perikatan Nasional (PN) which is registered (as a coalition) while also wanting to be in Muafakat Nasional which is unregistered.

"As such, we realise that PAS is indirectly not paying heed to the views of Umno's members.

"In the context of Kelantan, we had decided that any party that cooperates with Bersatu are not our friends in GE15," Jazlan told reporters in Kota Bharu today.

Earlier in the day, he had met with the Kelantan PAS leadership.

Differing views

While Umno said it is ending ties, it appears PAS came out of the meeting with a differing view.

In a Facebook post tonight, Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said the PAS-Umno meeting ended with the Islamist party deciding to maintain ties with Umno until the next general election.

PAS and Umno signed the Muafakat political pact in 2019.

However, ties broke down after PAS joined the PN coalition.

Previously in the Malacca state election, Umno and PAS were on opposite ends, which led to a wipe-out for PAS.

Umno, Bersatu and PAS are partners at the federal level.

Jazlan's rival in Kelantan, Ketereh Umno chief Annuar Musa, is a major proponent of working with both Bersatu and PAS.

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