The now defunct political coalition was formed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's formation of Parti Melayu Semangat 46 (S46 or Semangat 46) after leaving United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that was declared illegal.

[1] jointly with Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA), Muslim People's Party of Malaysia (HAMIM) and Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (KIMMA) before 9th Malaysian General Election in 1990.

APU along with the Gagasan Rakyat opposition coalitions led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah after failures in the 1990 and 1995 general elections.

After the 1995 election, relationship between PAS and Semangat 46 detotriated due to lack of respect of PAS towards Semangat 46 and differing views on Kelantan state leadership.

On 5 May 1996, Razaleigh announced the union no longer exist[3] and were subsequently formally disbanded in October after Razaleigh decided to dissolve Semangat 46 to return and rejoin back UMNO.