A FORMER PAS man has questioned the Islamic party on whether they were trying to cause conflict among UMNO leaders as they did previously when they were part of the federal government.
Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali, who is currently the UMNO ulama council executive secretary, was referring to the statement made by PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday (Aug 29) that the Islamist party was ready to work with UMNO again but not with leaders who were willing to team up with DAP.
“Barisan Nasional (BN) is working with Pakatan Harapan (PH) as a whole, and not merely with DAP,” Khairuddin said on his Facebook post today (Aug 30).
“Even that was because no party had won a simple majority to form the government following the 15th general election (GE15), and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had decreed for them to do so.
“However, PAS had purposely repeated this narrative to build a negative perception towards the unity government. That is what PAS does, building negative perceptions towards their political opponents.”
Khairuddin, who is also a former Plantation and Commodities minister, said Tuan Ibrahim’s statement reminded him of the time DAP said something similar about being willing to work with PAS again but not its leaders.
“Back then, PAS leaders vehemently criticised DAP. It seems like today PAS are doing the same thing themselves,” he remarked.
“But as usual, something that is deemed ‘haram’ (forbidden) when done by others becomes ‘halal’ (permissible) when PAS does it.”
The former Kuala Nerus MP went on to say that the political cooperation between BN and PH was decided by UMNO’s supreme council in line with the situation after last year’s GE15, and it was not a personal decision.
“Political cooperation must be based on sincere intentions to unite the people and the spirit of welfare, and not upon hidden intentions of trying to break up their allies,” he said.
Yesterday (Aug 29), Tuan Ibrahim said PAS is open to alongside with UMNO again through Muafakat Nasional (MN), stating that the coalition is still popular among the UMNO grassroots.
Former UMNO leader Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also suggested that UMNO and PAS should revive MN.
The former Pasir Salak MP said that the Malays were still divided and clashing against one another for power despite PAS winning big in the Aug 12 state elections.
Meanwhile, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has since said that his party has no intention of revisiting any ties with parties that are scheming and manipulative. – Aug 30, 2023
Main pic credit: Sabah News
