Umno Supreme council member Razlan Rafii accused Fadhli of promoting false narratives and said there had been no formal negotiations between the parties for an alliance at GE16.

Razlan said Fadhli’s claim about unnamed Umno leaders meeting PAS leaders could also be an attempt to cause internal conflict in Umno.

“Fadhli should be more concerned about the ever-worsening relationship between PAS and Bersatu,” he told FMT.

Razlan also claimed that he had received complaints from PAS grassroots members about Bersatu, which he said stemmed from Bersatu’s continued insistence on the prime minister’s seat and other high-ranking positions if it forms the government in the future.

“They (PAS grassroots members) are not comfortable with Bersatu, but we don’t bring it up because this is a matter between PAS and Bersatu,” said Razlan.

Earlier today, Utusan Malaysia reported Fadhli as saying that PAS and Umno leaders had met several times to discuss a potential GE16 partnership.

Fadhli said the informal meetings involved key leaders from both parties who believed they could consolidate the Malay vote.

Razlan said all discussions about cooperation must be done formally with the party’s top leaders, while decisions can only be made by the party’s political bureau and Supreme Council.

“In my opinion, Fadhli shouldn’t make statements that purposely divide the Malays,” he said.

Barisan Nasional (BN), Umno’s umbrella coalition, has yet to make an official decision on an alliance for GE16.

However, Umno president and BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has repeatedly said that the coalition will continue its present cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) at the next nationwide polls.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has said that BN could go solo once Umno has regained its strength.

Meanwhile, Umno Supreme Council member Jalaluddin Alias was reported as saying that while cooperation between BN and PH is smooth at the federal level, the same cannot be said at the state levels.