SHAH ALAM: Any meetings between Umno and Pas leaders were done in a personal capacity and not officially between the two parties, said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, denied holding any talks with Pas, and said no leaders from the Islamic party had met with him.
"Pas leaders did not meet with me. Perhaps if there were (any meetings) they were done in a personal capacity and not formally."
He was responding to earlier reports of discussions between Pas and Umno leaders on collaborating for the 16th General Election (GE16).
Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari previously disclosed that there had been frequent meetings with Umno recently.
He claimed that these meetings were conducted informally involving key leaders of both parties, which were seen as having the potential to reunite the severely fragmented Malay votes.
On July 8, Zahid said the party would not cooperate with Pas as long as Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang remains the party president.
He said this was decided based on Umno's previous experience cooperating with Pas.