Pas is the 'kingmaker' for ummah unification - Sanusi

ALOR SETAR - All political movements in the nation must involve Pas as the 'king maker' for the ummah's unification, says Central Pas Election director-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

The Kedah Menteri Besar said that without Pas’s participation in any movement or political coalition, it would not be successful.

He said Umno could no longer set aside Pas’s role in many issues of political unity before it became history in Muafakat Nasional.

"I think if Pas was not seriously involved, it would not lead anywhere. Pas acts as a kingmaker for Ummah unification.

"If the Umno president (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) didn’t do anything, if they did not want Pas’s involvement, they would not succeed in extending his political lifespan. He (Zahid) is dying, and Umno is facing a crisis under Zahid," he said in a press conference after chairing the Exco meeting in Wisma Darul Aman here on Wednesday.

Zahid stated on Tuesday that Umno did not intend to cooperate with parties or leaders who were scheming.

The Deputy Prime Minister said such when asked to comment on Pas’s statement that he was still open to continuing the Ummah unification agenda with Umno.

Zahid stated that cooperation must come from sincerity and not through manipulation, as well as several unacceptable actions filled with schemes.

Sanusi, who was the Kedah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, said since the nation was led by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Pas had decided to push for the formation of the unity government, but it was rejected.

"At the time we suggested a unity government, everyone knew.

"Times with Zahid are history. Are individuals still friends with him? I think even Umno members don’t want him. Many Umno voters voted for PN because they rejected him (Zahid).

"Some individuals (PN candidates) won in Kedah with a 23,000 majority; that is the manifestation of rejection towards Zahid’s leadership. I think he realises it; he is purposely ignoring it," he explained.

Sanusi slammed Zahid’s statement that Pas was filled with schemers.

"I think the ones with a lot of schemes were PKR. Their master is full of tricks. The most deceitful of all is the teacher, who was a combination of pupil and teacher," he said cynically, without mentioning the name of the leader.

He said Zahid was also filled with schemes when he attempted to drop Bersatu from Muafakat Nasional (MN).

"When the coalition was established, Zahid took a leave. When he saw that Datuk Mohamad Hasan was capable of leading Umno and having MN under the ummah's unification with Pas, he returned from his leave and took over; this brought the ummah unification of only Pas and Umno.

Sanusi stated that the spirit of ummah unification was continued despite now being in a different medium.

"The ummah's unification is not only through MN; insya-Allah, there are other methods," he said.

When asked if the ummah unification is synonymous with the Malay Proclamation led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as what MN has initiated by Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Sanusi said it must be refined.

"It must all be a consensus; it must be discussed and refined properly," he said.