Zahid, who is Umno president, said Umno leaders had never expressed a desire to join Pakatan Harapan’s “big tent”, contrary to claims by PAS leaders that Pakatan Harapan and Umno were holding talks on forming a government after the general election.

“Why are Umno leaders being blamed by PAS, when it was PAS leaders who wanted to cooperate with PH?” Zahid said.

He also questioned the credibility of information received by PAS that led to the allegation. “Did it (PAS) receive information from Bersatu, or from one of Umno’s enemies from within?” Zahid said.

He accused PAS of straying further away from “honourable political values” since the party joined Perikatan Nasional, and said it was being influenced by unhealthy politics practised by its new allies.

“It looks like only PAS’ grassroots can help ‘fix’ the party from straying further away,” Zahid added.

Muhyiddin, who is president of Bersatu and chairman of Perikatan Nasional, was reported in May to have urged BN’s rivals to consider renegotiating a political pact.

He said such an alliance would save the country from falling further into kleptocracy, corruption and abuse of power.

However, in August, leaders of Melaka PAS warned party leaders to ensure the party does not get labelled as a “yes man” by agreeing to Muhyiddin’s suggestion of an electoral pact with PH.