KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today welcomed what he described as PAS Youth’s courage in inviting the movement for talks, and expressed hope that it would lead to a more meaningful cooperation between the two parties.
“Previously attempts to hold discussion between PAS and Umno at the central level were disrupted by PAS allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR),” Khairy told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
Just last week the PR leadership council led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared their commitment to the coalition, and apparently put an end to the unity government proposal by PAS that has damaged the alliance.
“It is very significant that they have taken this step,” Khairy added.
This morning PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan in a joint press conference with Khairy’s deputy Datuk Razali Ibrahim declared the Islamist party’s intention to hold “intellectual discussions” with Umno, a move seen as an attempt to revive the unity talks between the two parties that started after last year’s general elections.
Khairy also hoped that the discussions between the two parties would go beyond the issues of Islam and the Malays and will in the future, include Barisan Nasional Youth parties.
He also hoped that the meeting would lead to discussions between central leaders of both parties, “if there is chemistry between Umno Youth and PAS Youth.”
“We haven’t even gone on our first date yet, we will see,” said Khairy when asked of his next action if both sides did not get along.
The two parties will first form a secretariat to finalise the format of the discussions, and Khairy said that it would be formed soon after the Manek Urai by-election, by the middle of this month.
“We will see PAS’s sincerity in the Manek Urai by-election where we look forward to a friendly campaign ... no personal attacks,” said the Rembau MP.
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