Editor's note: An earlier version of a story carried statements misattributed to Umno vice president Khaled Nordin. The statement has been removed and the error is regretted.

The Bersatu-PAS pledge to strengthen cooperation between the two parties within the Perikatan Nasional framework clearly shows that PAS is abandoning its Muafakat Nasional alliance with Umno, claimed Johor Bahru Umno chief Shahrir Samad.

As such, he foresaw BN would be facing three-cornered fights in the next general election at least for the Johor Bahru parliamentary constituency and both its state constituencies, Larkin and Stulang.

“PAS no longer strengthens Muafakat that now belongs to...