Umno Veterans Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub alleged that Bersatu is well aware of PAS’s attempts to convince Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to accept them into the federal coalition.

Mustapha dismissed talk of cooperation between Bersatu and Umno, urging instead for a complete reintegration, similar to how Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dissolved Semangat 46 to rejoin Umno in the 1990s.

“In reality, such statements show Bersatu’s anxiety over its future with PAS in a fractured Perikatan Nasional,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

“Bersatu knows that PAS has been lobbying Anwar for entry into the unity government, not once, but on several occasions through their intermediaries.”

“Not just once, but many times PAS has sent their ‘representatives’ to meet with Anwar for that purpose.”

His comments come after Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said in a podcast the party was open to working with Umno due to shared ideological values.

Hamzah reiterated this stance during the recent Ayer Kuning by-election, which Umno won with an increased majority despite low voter turnout.

Mustapha, however, said the best route forward for Bersatu was to return “en bloc” to Umno, describing it as the most effective way to fight for religion, race and country.

“It’s not about cooperating with Umno, but being part of Umno,” he said, adding that Hamzah’s repeated overtures should be viewed as sincere and constructive.