KUALA LUMPUR - Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has definitively ruled out any revival of the Muafakat Nasional alliance between Umno and PAS, declaring the matter "closed" as coalition battle lines harden ahead of the Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections.
Speaking at the InvestMalaysia event in Kuala Lumpur, Zahid dismissed speculation about rekindling the Malay-Muslim unity pact that was established in 2019 but effectively collapsed when PAS partnered with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional the following year.
"Muafakat Nasional has been registered as an NGO by someone. Therefore, we have absolutely no intention and no plans to revive MN," said Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister.
"Whether it is MN 1.0 or 2.0, the matter is final and we have closed the book on it," he added.
The statement comes amid intensifying speculation about PAS-Umno cooperation following PAS's formal severing of political ties with Bersatu last week. With the Bersatu partnership dissolved, some PAS leaders had floated the idea of reviving Muafakat Nasional as an electoral vehicle for the upcoming state polls.
Zahid also confirmed that Barisan Nasional would contest the Negeri Sembilan election independently, citing Pakatan Harapan's decision to field candidates in all 36 state constituencies.
"Because Pakatan Harapan has announced that it will contest all 36 seats, that means it will field candidates in every state constituency. That means we have no choice but to contest on our own," Zahid said.
DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook had made clear over the weekend that Pakatan Harapan would not work with BN in Negeri Sembilan, given the political circumstances that led to the dissolution of the state assembly.
The ruling out of Muafakat Nasional effectively confirms a three-cornered contest in Negeri Sembilan, with Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional fielding separate candidates. However, with PAS now distanced from Bersatu, the composition of PN's slate remains uncertain.
Political analysts have noted that multi-cornered contests in Malay-majority constituencies typically benefit Pakatan Harapan, as opposition votes are split between competing parties. The Negeri Sembilan election will serve as a closely watched test of each coalition's grassroots support.
The Election Commission has yet to announce nomination and polling dates for both the Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections.
Sources: Free Malaysia Today, Bernama
