GOMBAK, Aug 10 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today took a dig at Barisan Nasional’s (BN) former ally PAS, by saying it is a party that is never sincere.

In a fiery speech at the Karnival Kerjaya Madani, the Umno president labelled the Islamist party as ‘munafik’ or someone who is a hypocrite.

The Bagan Datuk MP was addressing the indigenous people of Batu 12, Gombak, to canvas their support for BN’s candidate for the Gombak Setia seat.

"Umno and BN have tried to work together with ‘Pak Lebai’ for two years. They are insincere, munafik and deceitful,” he said, referring to PAS.

"But our Pakatan Harapan (PH) friends are far more sincere. We are now contesting the state elections where some of the seats belonged to them prior to this but they gave them to us. It is clear that they are sincere,” he added.

He cited the state elections in Melaka and Johor where PAS had asked that seats be given to them.

"We thought of giving them, but in the end, we gave none because we came to know that they were plotting something with ‘Abah’. Have some shame,” he said, referring to PAS working together with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"We worked so hard to realise Muafakat Nasional (MN) and we were stabbed in the back.”

In 2019, Umno and PAS formed MN, a cooperation platform between both parties.

Zahid claimed that the PH-BN coalition is the best partnership to form a government.

"That is why we need to strengthen the Madani government,” he added.

Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will head to the polls on Saturday.

The six states decided against holding state elections at the same time as the 15th general election, citing concerns related to the annual flood season.