KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Umno will now face the 15th general election (GE15) solely with Barisan Nasional, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said after PAS affirmed its alliance with rival Perikatan Nasional today.

Despite insinuating as recently as last week that Umno and PAS would renew their political partnership in Muafakat Nasional, Ahmad Zahid claimed his party had expected the Islamist party would not follow through.

In an indirect swipe at PAS, the Umno president suggested that the Islamists’ claim of wanting to cooperate in the interest of Muslim unity was disingenuous and self-serving.

"The PAS central committee’s decision to continue working with Perikatan Nasional for GE15 was expected. The fact is Umno never closed its door to any noble effort to unify the Muslim community if this were honest and sincere,” he said in a statement today.

"With this decision, Umno and Barisan Nasional will now move solo by preserving the party image that has always been based on moderation as well as offering stability and prosperity to all Malaysians.”

Earlier today, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang finally committed his party to Perikatan Nasional, suggesting an end to its attempts to bridge the enmity between Umno and Bersatu.

PAS had been flirting with the possibility of working with Umno but that matter has been laid to rest today following PAS central committee’s decision.