PAS has officially decided against joining the unity government headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, days after the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition it is part of already decided as such.
In a brief statement today, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the Islamist party came to such a decision after considering the matter from various angles as well as the general public perception.
To respect the trust and mandate of the people, especially of those who voted for PAS and PN during last Saturday’s (Nov 19) 15th General Elections (GE15), he said PAS will not join hands with Pakatan Harapan (PH) or the DAP.
“Therefore, PAS will continue to function as a constructive opposition by advising all parties to ensure the governing of the country proceeds smoothly and is based on the principles of concern (for the people), cleanliness and stability,” said Takiyuddin.
During his maiden press conference as PM, Anwar, who assumed the country’s top office on Thursday (Nov 24) – five days after political turmoil took centre stage following last Saturday’s (Nov 19) polling results, which led to a hung Parliament – invited PN to join his unity government.
So far, Anwar’s government comprises his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Warisan and a few independent MPs, which he claims gives him a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
However, on Friday (Nov 25), Takiyuddin, who is the incoming Kota Bharu MP, said the matter first needs to be discussed among PN’s component parties (despite PN already deciding against joining the unity government and remaining in the opposition).
According to news reports, this was decided during a briefing with PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau on Thursday night, hours after Anwar was sworn in as prime minister.
This stance was also officially announced by Muhyiddin – who lost out to Anwar in the race to become Malaysia’s 10th PM – on Friday, leading Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan to poke fun at Takiyuddin for “missing the memo”.
“We were briefed about the need for checks and balances in Parliament and the government, so we are very clear about our position,” he told Free Malaysia Today (FMT), adding that he did not see Takiyuddin at the Thursday night briefing. – Nov 26, 2022
