UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi has expressed scepticism of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s ability to become prime minister when the Islamist party, who had ruled Kelantan for decades, cannot even resolve the state’s ongoing water crisis.
“From Hadi’s perspective, PAS can join the unity government just as long as PAS is given the advantage of [running the show] because they won more seats (in the 15th general election),” the former Batu Pahat MP said in a brief statement on Facebook.
“This means that PAS wants the prime ministerial post. From a political point of view, PAS has the right to the prime ministerial post because they won 43 seats as compared to PKR’s 30 seats.”
Puad was responding to Hadi’s claim on Saturday (May 27) that “certain people” have repeatedly approached him about joining the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government.
However, the Marang MP contended that the offer would not be advantageous to PAS and that joining the government would only serve to strengthen the latter’s position by adding more seats to it.
The Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman also said any offer to join the government should see PAS being given a dominant role as, of all parties, it had the most number of parliamentary seats.
Meanwhile, PKR deputy president yesterday (May 28) rubbished claims made by the PAS president that that PKR had asked the party to join the coalition government.
The Economy Minister claimed that he was not aware of such an offer despite being directly involved in the formation of the unity government post-GE15.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli also rubbished claims made by the PAS president that the Islamist party was offered to be part of the unity government.
The economy minister claimed he was not aware of such an offer despite being directly involved in the formation of the unity government after the 15th General Election (GE15).
“I have never heard of such an offer (PAS to join unity government),” Rafizi said at a press conference after the Half-Term Review Engagement Session of the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) with the Johor government yesterday.
“There were three individuals who were very much involved in negotiations during the formation of the unity government: myself, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, and PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“I’m not aware of such a claim from Hadi, or from which era did such a claim come from. What I can say is that throughout my involvement since the formation of the unity government until now, I am unaware of such a thing. Unless there was someone else who made the offer (to Hadi).”
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also blasted Hadi for claiming that the Islamist party is being offered to be part of the unity government.
“(Hadi) should not be so full of himself to think that (PAS) will be offered to join the unity government,” he reportedly told a press conference during an event in Bagan Datuk, Perak earlier today.
According to Zahid, he has no knowledge of such an offer to PAS. Instead, the Bagan Datuk MP told PAS to remain in Perikatan Nasional (PN) with Bersatu and its other allies.
“Jangan perasan (don’t be so full of yourself) to think that anyone would offer PAS to join the government,” Zahid was reported as saying. – May 29, 2023
