Umno reaching understanding with PAS, not cooperating: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is giving more priority to mutual understanding rather than a cooperation with PAS.
Its vice-president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the "tahaluf siyasi" (political cooperation) with the Islamist party should be a secondary agenda and more attention should be given to "ta'awun (understanding) and "tabayyun" (clarity).
"Ta'awun means understanding and giving attention to issues which have gone haywire all this while due to no priorities. Tabayyun means clarity," Ahmad Zahid said during a joint press conference with fellow vice-president Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein after Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak delivered his policy speech at the Umno annual general meeting today.
On Nov 24, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang read his motion for the amended version of his private member's Bill to amend Act 355 in a bid to expand the punitive powers of the syariah courts, but he deferred debate to the next time Parliament convenes next year.
Before Hadi's reading of his bill, Ahmad Zahid was the minister who announced that the bill would be tweaked following discussions with Hadi.
Ahmad Zahid had also called for a briefing with Muslim MPs over the bill.
The help Umno extended to Hadi over the bill had raised speculation that PAS and Umno are establishing political ties.