PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) may work with Barisan Nasional (BN) to form the next federal government if there is a hung parliament after the 15th general election (GE15), said PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
The caretaker energy and natural resources minister also expressed confidence that the PN coalition can form the federal government be it alone or by combining with other parties, including BN.
“What is certain, we will not accept Pakatan Harapan, even in the form of cooperation,” Takiyuddin was reported as saying by Berita Harian following a ceramah session in Kota Bahru, Kelantan last night.
“PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang previously said that if we cannot cooperate before GE15, maybe we will work together after GE15.
“Our first reference is BN. Although there have been no talks made during the campaigning period, we are confident that BN would accept.”
Takiyuddin further acknowledged the findings by political analysts that no party would win a simple majority of 112 parliamentary seats to form the government, thus rousing the need for inter-coalition cooperation.
His latest remark seems to be in contrast to the stance taken by PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, who back in September, declared an “open war” against BN.
Muhyiddin pointed out that the fact that BN is the “main enemy” in facing GE15 was agreed upon by all PN component parties, which includes PAS.
Takiyuddin rejected Muhyiddin’s war cry two days later, stressing that PAS would not accept the stance of anyone who labelled a Malay-Muslim group as their “main enemy”.
PAS and UMNO were former allies in the Muafakat Nasional pact.
Up to the 11th hour prior to Parliament’s dissolution, PAS maintained the need to work with both Umno and Bersatu, which is part of PN, for the sake of Malay-Muslim unity, before eventually sticking with PN. – Nov 15, 2022
Main pic credit: Info Rakyat
