Anwar says rumoured Umno-PAS alliance will not affect his govt, pledges focus on economy

Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said that rumours of a revival of the 2019 Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact between the Islamist Party of Malaysia (PAS) and Umno will not affect what he says is an "intact" Unity government.

Umno, part of Barisan Nasional, is currently part of Anwar's government.

The internal feud in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which has caused the falling out of PAS and ally Bersatu, is also not of his concern, Anwar added, according to The Sun.

"For people having their aspirations and delusions, or issues of disunity, that is their problem… (we) do not interfere in Bersatu’s problems… disunity is not an issue for the Unity Government," he told reporters on Jan. 2.

PN feud

Tensions rose within the PN coalition recently between major parties PAS and Bersatu, after Bersatu politicians withdrew their support for the Menteri Besar (MB, Chief Minister) of the state of Perlis.

PAS then accused them of betrayal and advocated for their party to take a bigger role in the PN coalition.

This was confirmed on Jan. 2 after Bersatu president and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced his resignation as PN chairman on Dec. 30, 2025.

PN's new chairman remains unconfirmed.

Muafakat Nasional pact

The MN pact, formed between PAS and Umno, the embodiment of traditional Malay nationalism and party of former prime minister Najib Razak, was formed in 2019 following the 2018 Malaysian general elections, and dissolved in 2022.

It was designed to run against the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, of which Anwar is currently the chairman, by uniting the Malay-Muslim community in elections.

Despite Umno being a part of his Madani government, Anwar expressed his lack of concern about Umno and PAS leaders' calls for the pact's revival following PN's fallout.

The calls are not yet at a serious stage, he said, according to The Sun, and he has not yet received any further information on its formation.

He also reaffirmed his government's primary focus on economic growth and public wellbeing, stating that all parties within the PH coalition have pledged to concentrate on these goals until the next general election.

Top image via Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook