Collaboration between UMNO, Pas has been ongoing for two years - Mustapa

The collaboration between UMNO and PAS has been ongoing for the past two years, according to Kelantan UMNO Liaison Committee chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said it involved cooperation at the G-to-G level between the UMNO-led federal government and the PAS-led Kelantan government under the leadership of Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

"The collaboration exists, it's not a dream...what was said (by PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man) was not right. The collaboration has been ongoing for the past two years.

"But it doesn't meant that we have a mixed government. That (mixed government) is a bigger concept and we must get the approval from PAS and UMNO members first," he told reporters after opening the Industri Kenaf Rakan Rakyat (IKRaR) programme at Bukit Bunga here today.

Mustapa said this in response to Tuan Ibrahim's remarks that UMNO was only dreaming if they thought of fostering a cooperation with PAS after UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when opening UMNO general assembly last Thursday, offered an olive branch (tali silaturahim) to PAS to strengthen the Muslim community.

Mustapa, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said the idea of having a mixed government was probably impossible to be achieved for the time being, but he was confident that Najib's offer would be welcomed later.

"We have been working together with PAS and this year alone, I have met with the menteri besar in too many occasions.

"I have even been to Kota Darul Naim (Kelantan government administration centre) for so many times too, which has never happened before. These are all good signs. The menteri besar has also held meetings with the prime minister on government matters," he added.