World · Malaysia Bureau
Kedah Umno open to PAS talks but rules out Perikatan coalition
The Kedah chapter of the United Malays National Organisation has signalled willingness to engage with PAS while firmly rejecting any negotiations with Perikatan Nasional-aligned groups. Umno's state division chief cited fundamental political differences with the broader coalition.
LSN Malaysia ·
Kedah's Umno leadership has drawn a clear line in the sand over potential political alliances, indicating it will pursue dialogue with PAS but maintain a firm stance against Perikatan Nasional and its affiliated parties.
Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin, the division chief, stated that the state chapter remains committed to negotiating with PAS while categorically dismissing any prospect of engaging with what he described as a Perikatan-aligned faction. His remarks underscored deepening fault lines within Malaysia's ruling coalition landscape at the state level.
The decision reflects broader tensions within Umno as the party navigates complex political dynamics across different states. Kedah's position suggests the party is exploring alternative partnerships to strengthen its position in the northern state, where coalition arrangements have remained fluid in recent years.
The move comes as Malaysian political parties continue to reassess their strategic alignments ahead of potential electoral contests. Umno's conditional openness to PAS engagement while rejecting Perikatan overtures signals a recalibration of the party's political strategy in Kedah, though the practical implications of such positioning remain unclear.