Umno and PAS set to clash in three states

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PETALING JAYA: With seat talks going sour, the tension between PAS and Umno is building up in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.

Although some Umno leaders at federal level are keen on continuing to work with PAS, a political analyst claims he has information that the story is different at the grassroots level.

“At the state level, there are challenges,” said Mohd Azizuddin Sani of Universiti Utara Malaysia. “Umno grassroots members in the three states do not want to share seats with PAS, and PAS wants more seats as it feels these are its stronghold states.”

He told FMT discussions in Terengganu had turned hostile. “Neither side is willing to give in. Both are demanding more seats and the talks are likely to fail.”

In Kedah and Kelantan as well, there had been no progress in the seat talks, he said.

Kelantan PAS is said to be meeting the state Umno leadership on Jan 22 to discuss cooperation for the next general election.

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