00:00UMNO stands to lose more than it gains if it agrees to revive the now-defunct Mok Fakat National Alliance
00:07for the Johor state election,
00:09with analysts saying that such a move would serve PAS's interest far more than UMNO's.
00:16Kisomuddin Bakar of Ilham Centre said the challenge will arise at the negotiating table,
00:21where PAS would seek to contest seats it considers winnable regardless of its track record in the state.
00:28University Malaya analyst Taufik Yaqob said UMNO would be wasting valuable political momentum
00:34by accommodating PAS in a state that has once again become an UMNO stronghold.
00:40He said UMNO could compete for the same pool of Malay Muslim voters by fielding candidates with strong Islamic credentials
00:48rather than relying on PAS.
00:51The two analysts were commenting on a statement by PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
00:58that the Johor polls presented an opportunity to resurrect MN and rebuild Malay Muslim political strength.
01:05However, UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Friday
01:09that a meeting between PAS and UMNO leaders the previous night did not touch on the revival of MN.
01:17Pan Yuzhou, FMT
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