KUALA LUMPUR: The UMNO Youth has been given a mandate to organise a “Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah” aimed at bringing together one million Muslims as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pas.
UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the presence of Pas leaders at the Umno General Assembly on Friday was a positive signal of growing room for understanding between the two parties.
“This relationship needs to be strengthened, not merely based on political considerations, but for the sake of Muslim unity. We will engage in political cooperation with them,” he said in his winding-up speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly as reported by NST.
Zahid said Pas representatives who attended the assembly had expressed their desire for the two parties to work together to organise the “Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah”.
He then called on delegates to endorse the proposal and gave Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh the mandate to spearhead the initiative.
“Akmal, I give you the mandate. Work well with them and organise roadshows from state to state before culminating in a massive gathering at the national level.
“I ask the entire Youth machinery, including division and state Youth chiefs, with the support of the divisions, Wanita and Puteri, to give full support to the gatherings at state level and carry out political cooperation through this joint movement so that it is organised and continuous,” he said.
Zahid said the cooperation could also serve as a test of Pas’ loyalty and sincerity, beginning in Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah.
“Let us test them first in Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah,” he said, drawing cheers from delegates.
However, he said Perlis would be handled separately, leaving the matter to Perlis Umno chief Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman.
Zahid said the proposed cooperation should be built on mutual respect, honesty and a commitment to the interests of the Muslim community.
“Hopefully, we can build this cooperation or understanding on the basis of mutual respect, without betrayal, and with sincerity for the benefit of the ummah as a whole.
“Unity does not necessarily mean that we have to become the same. But we must be mature enough to find common ground that can unite us in the coming elections, including the 16th General Election,” he said.
