KUALA LUMPUR:UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said efforts should continue in Muafakat Nasional (MN) despite not having mentioned or discussed the cooperation for some time.

He said the relationship between the two parties was still continuing even though some parties were not very happy and continue to find ways to disrupt them.

He maintained that the relationship between UMNO and PAS was still good.

In fact, he also shared a story about the inspiration to re-establish cooperation between the two parties has existed since 1998.

“After I got a "degree" of the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA), I met the PAS leader, the late Datuk Dr Haron Din at that time.

“The late Tuan Guru (Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) at that time was the PAS Information Chief. I remember the words of the late Datuk Dr Haron Din to me.

"He expressed his desire to see UMNO and PAS be able to share each other’s thoughts even though they do not merge as a party one day," he said in a post on his Facebook on Sunday.

He added that he personally considered the wish as the will of the late Dr Haron Din and he was thankful that the will could be fulfilled through the signing of the Muafakat Nasional Charter on September 14, 2019.

“I remember being the UMNO president who visited the PAS president's service centre in Rusila and attended the PAS Sanawi Muktamar in Gong Badak.

“Efforts to establish cooperation between UMNO and PAS after GE14 are also championed by other top leadership of both parties.

"I think this cooperation should be continued by UMNO and PAS because it is proven to have a positive impact and God willing, this relationship will continue to be close," he said.

Ahmad Zahid stressed that Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to be strengthened and at the same time foster cooperation with honest and sincere parties to work together.

He issued such a statement following many people were wondering about the status of MN, especially after PAS joined the Perikatan Nasional (PN) while UMNO decided otherwise.