Speaking to reporters after an event, Zahid said he had initiated efforts to unite the Malay-Muslim community through Muafakat Nasional (MN) following the 14th general election, but claimed that PAS ultimately betrayed the cooperation.

“Betrayal is in their DNA. So if they remove that sense of betrayal from their hearts, perhaps we can consider it.

“If not, I think it is better for us to forget the idea,” he said.

Zahid was asked for his response after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang urged Umno to reflect and “return to the right path,” having allegedly choosen the wrong political partners.

PAS and Umno formed the MN alliance in 2019 to unite the Malay-Muslim support, in what was then seen as a major breakthrough in consolidating Malay political power after decades of enmity between the two parties.

However, following the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government and the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister in 2020, PAS decided to work with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional, which Umno viewed as a betrayal.

PAS also insisted on roping Bersatu into MN, which Umno opposed. The pact eventually ended in December 2022 with Umno going on to back PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

PAS leaders have repeatedly brought up the idea of reviving MN, although Hadi has said this must not involve Zahid in any way.