PAU 2026: UMNO Extends Official Invitation to PAS Leadership as Sign of Respect

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — UMNO will invite the top leadership of PAS to attend the UMNO General Assembly 2026 (PAU 2026), which is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 12 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the invitation will be made officially as a sign of respect. He added that it also serves as a gesture to reciprocate PAS’ previous invitation to UMNO leaders to attend the party’s annual assembly.

According to Asyraf Wajdi, UMNO will extend the invitation to PAS’ highest leadership to attend the party’s annual gathering this September. The move reflects a formal political courtesy between the two Malay-Muslim-based parties despite the wider political differences that continue to shape Malaysia’s current landscape.

He made the announcement after the UMNO Supreme Council meeting held at Menara Dato’ Onn, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.

In the same development, Asyraf Wajdi said the Supreme Council had also agreed on three main programmes to be held one day before PAU 2026 officially begins.

The three programmes are the Malay Education Convention 2026, Multaqa Ilmuwan Islam Malaysia, and Laman Wanita Kreatif. All three are scheduled to take place on September 8 and will be open to the public.

The announcement shows that PAU 2026 will not only serve as UMNO’s annual party gathering, but also as a platform for discussions related to education, Islamic scholarship and women’s creativity.

The Malay Education Convention is expected to highlight issues linked to the future of Malay education, while Multaqa Ilmuwan Islam Malaysia is set to bring together Islamic scholars and thinkers. Laman Wanita Kreatif, meanwhile, will provide space for women-related initiatives and creative participation.

PAU 2026 is scheduled to run for four days from September 9 until September 12 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. The assembly is expected to gather UMNO delegates, party leaders and invited guests from across the country.

The invitation to PAS leadership is likely to draw political attention, especially as both parties remain influential players in Malaysia’s political scene.

Although UMNO and PAS have followed different political paths in recent years, the invitation signals that formal engagement between party leaderships remains possible, particularly in the context of political courtesy and mutual respect.

For UMNO, the presence of invited political guests at its annual assembly may also reflect the party’s broader effort to maintain communication with different political groups.

For PAS, the invitation provides another opportunity to attend a major political gathering involving one of Malaysia’s oldest and most established parties.

The development also comes at a time when Malay political unity, party cooperation and national political stability remain closely watched by observers and grassroots members.

While the invitation does not necessarily indicate any formal political cooperation, it still carries symbolic importance because it involves two major parties with strong grassroots networks.

As PAU 2026 approaches, attention will likely focus on whether PAS leaders accept the invitation and how their presence may be received by UMNO delegates.