The result of the Sungai Kandis by-election has invalidated any justification for cooperation between Umno and PAS, Titiwangsa Umno division chief Johari Abdul Ghani said today.

In a lengthy statement today, Johari said despite the overtures from both parties, Umno fared worse during the by-election compared to the May 9 election.

"During the May 9 elections, without PAS, Umno garnered 11,518 votes (in Sungai Kandis). After allying with PAS, we received only 9,583 votes.

"No matter how we spin (the results) to make us feel better, the fact is we lost. We received fewer votes than before the alliance with PAS," he said.

Johari said although Umno had collaborated with PAS on the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, Rohingya crisis, and other issues, the partnership had clearly not borne fruit in Sungai Kandis.

In view of this, he believes Umno should not dance to PAS' tune, as the latter was the "smaller" party which held less than half the number of Umno’s seats in the Dewan Rakyat.

'Focus on our roots'

Moving forward, Johari added, Umno should remind itself of why it was successful in the past and managed to attract support from all major ethnic groups.

"We need a refocus on our roots – protecting Malay interests enshrined in the Federal Constitution without ignoring the needs of other races.

"This is the fact which Umno must accept because it is the recipe used by earlier Umno activists who fought for independence. It was a proven success for 61 years," he said.

"BN's success was because the Chinese, Indians and other races felt they could trust BN to protect their interest.

"That is why PAS cannot form the federal government. They cannot convince minorities to agree with their ideology, which is not nationalistic.

"If we reduce ourselves, a nationalistic party, to PAS' level, then we are diminishing Umno's crusade."

He also urged Umno leaders fond of making statements which irked minorities to stop because it was affecting other BN component parties.

Johari was the second finance minister during the last federal administration. He unsuccessfully bid to become Umno vice-president in the recent party election. 

'PAS alliance hurting us'

Meanwhile, Umno senator Khairul Azwan Harun supported Johari's view that an alliance with PAS is not in Umno's best interests.

"Although the partnership may have had its benefits in the past, today, moving forward, this alliance is hurting our efforts in winning back non-Malay support. 

"Yes, we are a party that protects Malay rights, but protecting Malay rights has never meant marginalising the rights of other Malaysians," he said in a statement.

Khairul Azwan said a study by the  Centre for Governance and Political Studies on Sungai Kandis also showed that an Umno-PAS alliance and leaning on right-wing Malay rhetoric also cost Umno support among Malays.

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