N9 polls: PN-BN pact sealed four days before nomination day, says Takiyuddin

TAMPIN: Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan revealed that the understanding between the coalition and Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Negri Sembilan state election was finalised just four days before nomination day. The Pas secretary-general said the agreement was concluded by himself, Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Negri Sembilan Umno leaders. Takiyuddin described the understanding as a historic turning point in Malaysian politics, marking the start of closer cooperation between the two coalitions. "We should have been working together and standing united to defend our country a long time ago. "However, as mentioned, that effort was delayed for certain reasons. "What we have achieved during the Negri Sembilan state election is an important milestone. "Datuk Seri Hamzah, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi, the Negri Sembilan Umno leadership and I finalised this understanding four days before nomination day. "This is PN and BN — one united front that, God willing, can no longer be separated," he said during the Ceramah Gelombang Biru programme at Felda Bukit Rokan last night. Also present were former Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Tampin Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa, Gemencheh BN candidate Suhaimizan Bizar, and Gemas PN candidate Ridzuan Ahmad. Takiyuddin, who is also the Kota Baru member of parliament, said the move by both coalitions' leadership was aimed at restoring ties and strengthening relations between Umno and Pas. He recalled that the two parties had previously sought to rebuild ties through Muafakat Nasional following Barisan Nasional's defeat at the federal level. "As Datuk Isam mentioned, we once tried to restore the brotherhood between Umno and Pas. "On Sept 14, 2019, after the Barisan Nasional government was defeated at the federal level, Pas and Umno launched an alliance known as Muafakat Nasional. "For the first time, some Pas members stepped into Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre, Umno's headquarters. "There were tears because we wondered why it had taken so long for us to come together. We should have united much earlier," he said. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd