PETALING JAYA: The Sungai Kandis by-election results should not be used as a yardstick to gauge the cooperation between Umno and PAS, said Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pic).



While cooperation between the two parties has been widely speculated for the by-election, the Umno secretary-general said such cooperation is still in its infancy but nonetheless important.



"Many people, including Umno leaders, are in the dark over the type of cooperation between the two parties.



"This is because the only agreement (between Umno and PAS) is on putting one candidate (for the by-election).



"But we have not agreed upon cooperation in terms of campaigning and other aspects," he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 5).



In fact, both parties have not agreed to share the same stage or even combine their election machineries, Annuar added.



"In other words, both parties have not moved as one entity, unlike Pakatan Harapan.



He also said that the room for cooperation remained wide and has not been tested.



"It will still be worked out to strengthen the fight for the people," he added.



Annuar said Umno will continue to adopt an open and pragmatic approach in its struggle for the rakyat.



"The people, especially the bumiputra and Muslims, need protection from Pakatan's rule, which is mostly dominated by DAP.



"We will definitely resume our struggle," he added.

Annuar also claimed that the low voter turnout in the Sungai Kandis by-election showed that the people were "beginning" to reject the Pakatan Harapan Government.

