PAS has shot down ideas of working with Pakatan Harapan under the latter’s proposed “big tent” formula.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, PAS vice president Idris Ahmad said his party was more focussed in solidifying it partnerships under Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan) and Muafakat Nasional (Muafakat).
“PAS leadership has not talked about cooperating with Pakatan for the 15th General Election and we have no intention to do so either.
“We will only hold talks with groups that will champion Malay-Muslims as well as non-Malay parties which are not extreme in their views.
“As for Parti Amanah Negara, we will only accept them if they cut ties with DAP,” its vice president Idris Ahmad said.
ON May 20, Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin extended an olive branch to Pakatan and urged the former to aside differences to ensure straight fight against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election.
“Officially, there have not been any meetings with Pakatan but there have been some initiatives taken by certain quarters to discuss how Perikatan and Pakatan will be able to avoid clashes with one another in GE15.
“But we have yet to reach a certain level in finding a solution on this as we still need to observe the findings of all parties’ leadership,” The Star reported the former prime minister as saying.
Don’t forsake the ummah
PAS’ adamance against working with DAP and Amanah effectively throws a spanner into Muhyiddin’s moves to lure Pakatan to cooperate with his coalition.
It is to note that despite PAS harping on the Muafakat charter signed with UMNO, the nationalist party had repeatedly snubbed the Islamist party for its ties with Muhyiddin’s Bersatu.
Touching on the matter, Idris acknowledged that the Muafakat’s steering committee had not meet for some time but stressed that PAS leaders had never stopped reminding UMNO of the need for Muslim unity in Malaysia.
“PAS is always ready to hold discussions with UMNO and other parties to strengthen the cooperation within the charter and the unity of Muslims in the country.
“Hence, I hope all Malay-Muslim parties will not be selfish and egoistic, for the sake of the ummah,” the minister reminded. – May 24, 2022
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
