PAS leader says UMNO must be top priority in any coalition talks

Hashim, who chaired a PAS syura council session, said the party can engage any political partner but must prioritize UMNO in any coalition discussions. He emphasized that a lasting alliance between PAS and UMNO should be grounded in shared religious and national concerns, not merely electoral calculations. Citing the collapse of the Muafakat Nasional pact after PAS joined Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional (PN), he warned against partnerships driven solely by politics.

On election logistics, Hashim indicated PAS would field candidates under its own well-known crescent-moon symbol in the November 14 Melaka state poll if the PN banner is unavailable. The PN coalition’s activities remain halted after the Registrar of Societies indefinitely suspended it, though the High Court has allowed the coalition to challenge the suspension, with a formal stay application set for Oct 22.