Melaka polls: Pas, Umno must close old wounds and strengthen ties

MELAKA: Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said party members and their Umno counterparts should put aside their past political differences and focus on strengthening cooperation ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16).

Acknowledging that the two parties had been bitter political rivals for decades, he said past disagreements should not be allowed to undermine their renewed cooperation under the Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional alliance.

He also admitted to frequently criticising Umno during previous election campaigns, saying such attacks were part of the political rivalry at the time.

"If we want to preserve this political cooperation and unity, we should not keep bringing up the past.

"Close that chapter and look ahead. If we keep bringing up old issues, it will only reopen old wounds," he told reporters after attending the Ceramah Kelompok UDM Pantai Cheng last night.

Tuan Ibrahim said both parties should learn from their past disagreements and move forward to strengthen their political cooperation.

"I, too, have criticised Umno many times in my speeches in the past.

"Of course, we were political opponents then. Surely, we couldn't be praising Umno while campaigning against them.

"That was our political position at the time. For our past mistakes, we apologise, and we move forward.

"What matters now is looking ahead because the challenges before us are enormous," he said.

He said the renewed cooperation between Pas and Umno was particularly important as both parties prepared for GE16.

Tuan Ibrahim also thanked Umno and BN leaders for their willingness to work alongside PN throughout the Melaka election campaign.

He said the level of cooperation between the two coalitions had been encouraging, particularly among their respective grassroots election machinery.

"I am deeply touched by the cooperation shown by our friends in Barisan Nasional, particularly Umno leaders who have come down to work together.

"I have experienced this cooperation in Negri Sembilan, but it is even stronger here in Melaka," he said.