The Umno deputy president said the moment they viewed PN as a shortcut to power, the agenda of ummah unity would not be attained.
Mohamed said the leaders also held the erroneous perception that all the problems and interests of the Malay-Muslim community could be addressed by PN.
Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang rejected an “incomplete” MN, the pact forged between Umno and PAS in the aftermath of the 14th general election.
He said that being part of MN in its present form was akin to being “shackled”. PAS is also part of PN.
“It must be accepted that PN, which has become a bigger political movement, needs to be in power in this plural society,” Hadi told party organ, Harakahdaily.
Mohamad said when MN was established, Umno was very clear about its objective, which was to bring together the two Malay parties and in turn become a platform for unity, based on honesty and sincerity.
He said MN was not solely confined to politics and was a platform to discuss broader issues affecting the Malay-Muslim community, adding that Umno, from the onset, did not want to register MN as a political alliance despite certain groups within the two parties urging for that to be done.
“What is clear is that Umno has never turned its back on MN or left it. Umno has been trying to strengthen this coalition from all aspects.
“However, once PN was formed, MN seemed to be no longer attractive and it was as though it had no more meaning (for certain parties),” he said.
Despite this, Mohamad said the latest development did not mean that MN would be abandoned and that it was no longer relevant for PAS to continue working with PN and Umno/Barisan Nasional.
He added that if there was an issue that required both parties to meet, MN should be used as a platform.
PAS is a component party of PN, chaired by Muhyiddin Yassin.
Apart from several senior PAS leaders joining the federal government, Hadi was also appointed as the prime minister’s special envoy to the Middle East.
PAS had previously accused Umno of breaking its promise when it did not agree with Bersatu joining MN.
Umno, on the other hand, criticised PAS for joining PN despite having established MN to be with Umno.
Several Umno leaders have urged PAS to choose either Bersatu or Umno.