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Umno open to unity talks but wants more info first

NEW STRAITS TIMES
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is open to having unity talks with Pas but wants more details on the idea, such as whether it involves the setting up a coalition or just an understanding on several issues, before it makes its decision.

mno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday the party had to look into various issues beforehand.

"We are open to the idea but we first need more information because as of now, there are not many details on this 'unity talks'."

Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister, said Umno also wanted to know whether the unity talks involved a common stand among Pakatan Rakyat parties or was the aspiration of Pas alone.

"It seems that there are conflicting views among Pakatan Rakyat component parties on the unity talks.
"DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat do not seem to be agreeable to it. It seems that only Pas is supporting the idea."

Muhyiddin said this when asked on the unity talks issue, which was a key topic during the Pas muktamar last week.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said on Sunday any talks with Pas on forming a unity government would be decided by the top leadership of Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had on Friday, during the Pas muktamar, reopened the door for a unity government between Pakatan Rakyat and BN, after slamming it shut two months earlier.

He had said PKR and DAP leaders had not raised any objection when the proposal was brought up earlier. However, leaders of both parties have since rejected Hadi's statement, saying they were not aware of such a discussion.

Hadi's proposal was also met with strong opposition from Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who said cooperation between Pas and BN had been tried before and had failed.