PAS will focus on rebuilding cooperation with Umno following the cancellation of Perikatan Nasional's (PN) registration, with the party's spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin saying the development would affect Bersatu more than PAS.
He said PAS could continue pursuing political cooperation with Umno, which the party's Syura Ulama Council had previously identified as its priority for negotiations with other political parties.
“The cancellation of PN will not affect PAS as much as Bersatu, which stands to face a much bigger impact. PAS can focus on cooperation with Umno, which the people have been waiting for,” he told Utusan Malaysia.
Hashim said an alliance between PAS and Umno could have significant implications for the 16th General Election (GE16), while the party remained open to working with other political groups.
He said PAS's central leadership had been tasked with continuing negotiations with Umno to pursue unity between the two major Malay-Muslim parties.
“Basically, cooperation between PAS and Umno would be more beneficial and have a significant impact on the country's political landscape,” he said.
Hashim added that PAS was also comfortable maintaining cooperation with Parti Wawasan Negara, led by Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, saying the party was considered a more suitable partner than Bersatu.
He said PAS could also accept Hamzah's approach in his capacity as Opposition Leader.
The cancellation of PN's registration has deepened tensions between PAS and Bersatu, with the parties offering differing views on the decision and its implications for the coalition.
Meanwhile, in Alor Gajah, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that seat negotiations with PAS and its partners for the Melaka state election had been finalised.
BN will contest 21 of the 28 state seats, while its partners will contest the remaining seven.
Zahid said BN would announce its candidates at the Melaka International Trade Centre on Saturday (Oct 24).
“I can confirm that BN will contest 21 seats, while they and their partners will contest seven seats,” he said after attending the Melaka Bermunajat event at Masjid Salmah Kamis in Durian Daun, Masjid Tanah, last night.
He said BN would use its own logo in the election, while the decision on logos for its partners would be left to their respective leaderships. - October 22, 2026