JOHOR BAHRU, June 10 — Johor PAS will maintain friendly ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) at the state level despite having to officially sever ties, said Johor PAS Commissioner Datuk Mahfodz Mohamed.

He said the recent decision to split with Bersatu has not affected the relationship between leaders and members of the two parties in Johor.

“The Johor Bersatu leadership had in fact contacted me regarding the decision (on Monday night).

“I have personally spoken to Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, who is the Johor Bersatu chairman and also Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, regarding the decision to part ways,” he told reporters after chairing a state-level meeting at the Johor PAS office in Bandar Baru Uda here last night.

“Despite that, I assured him Johor PAS will continue our friendship with the state Bersatu,” he added

Mahfodz, who is Johor PN deputy chairman, was responding to the recent announcement that PAS had cut ties with Bersatu, effectively ending its six-year political cooperation.

For Johor, Mahfodz said he abides by the party’s decision, but had instructed PAS at the state level to continue its friendship with Bersatu without prejudice.

He said that the friendship forged by both parties over the years will continue despite having to end their political cooperation.

“However, the changes in the political landscape will not disrupt Johor PAS’s election machinery as we prepare for the upcoming Johor polls,” he said.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced on Monday night that the party had decided to sever ties with Bersatu.

He said PAS would form a new political pact focused on uniting the Muslim community for the upcoming state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, as well as the next general election.

However, PAS remains in PN despite cutting off its political cooperation with Bersatu, a fellow component party.

In 2020, both Bersatu and PAS founded PN for mutual political gain.

The coalition also includes Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — The Petaling Jaya parliamentary office has been unable to access the MyKhas system since May 29, 2026, its MP Lee Chean Chung said in a statement today, making him the second lawmaker allegedly barred from the portal that provides access to constituency development funds.

Lee said he issued the public statement to seek clarification from Putrajaya, stressing that critical matters related to constituency allocations and Projek Mesra Rakyat (PMR) have been disrupted.

“To ensure that the rakyat (people) are not left wondering and waiting in uncertainty, I have decided to disclose this matter publicly today,” Lee wrote.

“In our country’s political history, we have witnessed several opposition MPs, including six from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), receiving constituency allocations after declaring their support for the Unity Government.

“Yet, to the best of my knowledge, this might be the first time in the nation’s history where two government MPs have lost access to their constituency allocation channels,” the PKR leader added.

MyKhas is operated by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD).

Both Lee and Subang MP Wong Chen are known allies of former minister and PKR defector Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi, together with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also a former minister, has formed a new party set to challenge Pakatan Harapan in seats previously contested by PKR in the upcoming elections.

Wong had speculated that he was likely barred from accessing his constituency funds after attending the launch of Parti Bersama Malaysia. Lee suggested the same, but said PKR leadership should at least provide a clear reason.

“If this decision is related to my attendance at the launch event of the new party led by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad on May 17, then the party leadership should provide a clear and open explanation,” the MP wrote.

“If my actions are deemed a breach of party discipline, disloyal to the party, or detrimental to the party’s interests, then due process must be carried out. A warning letter could be issued, a show-cause letter could be requested, or a disciplinary investigation could even be conducted through the established channels.”

On May 22, PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh reportedly said the party leadership would contact the six MPs who attended the event, including Lee.

The PJ lawmaker said he has yet to receive any official notification.

“In any political organisation, the principles of accountability and due process should be respected,” Lee wrote.

“What has happened this time is deeply disappointing because no verbal or written explanation was provided before access to the constituency allocation was blocked.”

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Umno has recorded 21,858 new and returning members within less than two months since online registration was opened on April 20, party secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said today.

He said the figure covers new members as well as former leaders and members who have rejoined the party nationwide, including some from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

“Since online registration was officially opened on April 20, 2026 until the Umno supreme council meeting on June 10, 2026, in less than two months, the number of new registrations and returning former leaders and members of Umno, including leaders from Bersatu across Malaysia, totalled 21,858,” he said in a Facebook post.

Asyraf expressed gratitude for the renewed support, describing Umno as a “Rumah Bangsa” (“home of the nation”) with a long history in shaping religion, race and country.

He added that he prayed for blessings and continued prosperity for the party as it marked eight decades of political struggle.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — PAS will discuss Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) position with Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) this week, after ending its political cooperation with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

PAS central committee member and PN information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the decision was “nothing personal”, adding that it only involved political cooperation between PAS and Bersatu, and did not involve PN as a coalition.

“PN’s position will be discussed together with its component parties, particularly PAS, Gerakan and MIPP. The discussion will also be held this week,” he said in a Facebook post.

Annuar said PAS remained committed to multiracial political cooperation and appreciated the positive attitude shown by Gerakan and MIPP within PN.

He said PAS would ensure that its next move in PN is based on the coalition’s constitution, and not on the “superiority” of any individual or party.

He also said party-level ties with Bersatu had ended, but relations between individual members would continue as usual, adding that positions held by individuals in PAS-led governments would not be affected for now as long as they supported and cooperated with PAS.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 4 —  Endau assemblyman Alwiyah Talib today announced that she has left Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and rejoined Umno.

Alwiyah, who is also the Mersing Bersatu division chief, said the decision was made after considering various factors for the benefit and future of the constituency she represents.

“I have decided to announce my resignation from Bersatu and relinquish all my positions in the party with immediate effect, and to return to Umno.

“I wish to stress that this decision was made independently and was not influenced by any party,” she told a press conference here today.

She said the move would not affect her commitment to continue serving the people and safeguarding the welfare of residents in Endau, adding that it would enable her to contribute towards a better future and strengthen community unity in the constituency.

Alwiyah also expressed her appreciation to voters in Endau for their support and cooperation throughout her tenure as assemblyman.

In the 2022 Johor state election, Alwiyah, representing Perikatan Nasional (PN), retained the Endau state seat with a majority of 3,041 votes in a five-cornered contest.

She had previously won the seat in the 14th General Election under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket before joining Bersatu.

The Johor State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on Monday (June 1), paving the way for the state election. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — PAS said Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's return as Opposition Leader had long been its preferred outcome, adding that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia had previously been uncomfortable with him remaining in the role following his expulsion from the party.

Berita Harian reported that PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Islamist party had wanted to retain Hamzah in the role from the outset because of his performance and the support he commanded among Opposition lawmakers.

“Actually, from the very beginning, we wanted to retain Datuk Seri Hamzah because of his performance and because many MPs were with him. It was just that Bersatu was not particularly comfortable with Hamzah’s position at the time, as he had been expelled from the party.

“So when he formed a new party (Parti Wawasan Negara) and joined us (PAS), we thought we should continue to retain him (as Opposition Leader),” Tuan Ibrahim told reporters after a pre-election ceramah at the PAS operations centre in Seremban last night.

According to the national daily, Tuan Ibrahim said the arrangement had already been agreed upon before PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was appointed PN chairman in February, after Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped aside from the position.

Hamzah had relinquished the role after being expelled from Bersatu, with Ahmad Samsuri succeeding him as Opposition Leader following PN's Supreme Council meeting on May 16.

Tuan Ibrahim added that Hamzah’s decision to establish Parti Wawasan Negara and align himself with PAS meant the issue was no longer tied to Bersatu.

“Because he formed a new party and is with us, we decided to retain him once again,” he said.

Yesterday, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced that Hamzah, who is also the Larut MP, would return as Opposition Leader during the RESET convention in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.

Hadi said PAS and the RESET movement had agreed to retain Hamzah in the role, adding that the decision had been reached through consultation within PAS and among MPs.