Hadi’s ‘Rumah Bangsa’ rejection may stall Umno-PAS ties, say analysts

2026-03-16 - 01:44

Analysts said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) does not need to wait any more for Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS to pursue his ‘Rumah Bangsa’ agenda. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s rejection of Umno’s “Rumah Bangsa” initiative could stall efforts to revive cooperation between the two parties ahead of the next general election, say analysts. Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said Hadi’s remark that the initiative was not rooted in Islamic principles should not be seen as a casual statement, as it was conveyed through his regular column, “Minda Presiden PAS” (President’s Thoughts), posted on both social media and PAS’s mouthpiece, Harakah. Backed with religious references, he said Hadi’s column often outlines his ideological views and serves as a key reference point for party members and supporters. “When he says that the ‘Rumah Banga’ proposed by Umno does not have Islam at its core, it can be interpreted as a clear rejection of the cooperation framework suggested by the party. “In a broader context, this signals that the idea of reviving political cooperation between PAS and Umno, similar to the Muafakat Nasional alliance, may face a deadlock for now,” he told FMT. Hadi made the assessment based on observations from PAS representatives who attended a meeting chaired by Umno with several political parties last week. On March 5, representatives from eight political parties met at Umno’s headquarters to seek common ground on matters involving the Malays, Bumiputeras and Islam. The meeting was attended by representatives from PAS, PKR, Amanah, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Berjasa, Parti Kongres India Muslim Malaysia and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia. PAS was represented by its secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan. Following Hadi’s rejection, Hisommudin said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should press on with the “Rumah Bangsa” agenda without waiting for PAS. “If this initiative truly aims to rebuild Malay confidence in Umno and restore its political narrative, then the party must pursue the agenda consistently,” he said. “If it succeeds in regaining Malay voters’ trust, it could re-establish Umno’s position as a key player in Malay politics while overshadowing its rivals, particularly Perikatan Nasional, which is facing several internal issues,” he said. However, Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said cooperation between Umno and PAS could still happen if both parties see a strong chance of electoral success. “Indeed, Hadi’s statement may cause Umno members to distance themselves from PAS, but if we look at political developments in recent years, politics is often an elitist game. “Hadi and Zahid could still end up working together,” she said. Syaza also said Zahid should continue pushing “Rumah Bangsa” without PAS to show that Umno can lead the Malay political struggle on its own. “If Umno keeps chasing after PAS, it will appear as though it cannot lead Malay politics without PAS,” she said, adding that the party could also be seen as being more inclusive and moderate.