KUALA LUMPUR – Ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has become a member of Muafakat Nasional (MN), the former political alliance between Umno and PAS now turned into a non-governmental organisation.
Nazri, an Umno veteran and head of the party’s Padang Rengas division, was welcomed into MN by its president Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who was sacked from Umno in December 2022.
“Thank you (Nazri) for being a member of MN and giving a strong boost to MN,” Annuar wrote on Facebook to announce Nazri’s membership.
He also posted a photo of himself with Nazri, who has held various cabinet portfolios under previous governments and who was appointed ambassador to the US in February last year.
Annuar, who is former Ketereh MP, said MN as a NGO welcomed members of all races and religions irrespective of political party.
However, Annuar has also been using the MN platform to call for continued cooperation between Umno, Bersatu and PAS, of which he has been a member since June last year following his sacking from Umno.
Bersatu and PAS form the opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional, while Umno is in the unity government at the federal level and in several states with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
MN was formed by Umno and PAS following Umno–Barisan Nasional’s stunning loss in the 2018 general election when PH formed the federal government.
Umno and PAS used MN as a vehicle for political cooperation with the aim of reclaiming power, but the loose alliance fizzled out heading into the November 2022 general election. Following this, Annuar refashioned MN into an NGO and became its chairman.
In March this year, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also deputy prime minister, rejected suggestions for MN to be revived with Umno. – August 7, 2024