[UPDATED] PAS commits to PN cooperation, partnership with Umno now doubtful

KUALA LUMPUR – The PAS leadership has resolved to work with fellow components in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in facing the coming 15th general election (GE15).

In a statement, its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision was made during a meeting of the Islamist party’s central working committee held today.

PN consists of PAS, Bersatu, and Gerakan.

The announcement may put PAS’ ties with Umno in a bind as Bersatu is a splinter party of Umno.

In early October, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had set some stern conditions for a working relationship with PAS in GE15.

He had said that PAS must quit PN, which is a rival to Umno-led Barisan Nasional, before cooperation talks could even begin.

PAS must also officially declare that the party has separated completely from PN and Bersatu, Zahid had said.

Zahid had also said that PAS must choose a side as the Islamist party is in the Muafakat Nasional pact with Umno, while also being a formal member of PN. Umno, however, has rejected working with Bersatu and PN.

Hadi today reasoned that the decision to enhance cooperation within PN is based on the principle of the unity of the ummah (Muslim fraternity).

In the PN framework only PAS and Bersatu are Malay-Muslim outfits. Gerakan, though having a majority Chinese membership, espouses to be multi-racial.

Furthermore, the PAS leadership meeting today also undertook to finalise discussions on seat sharing in the various states with PN, Hadi added.

“The list of candidates from the states needs to be brought up for evaluation by the Ulama Syura Council,” he said, referring to the council of elders that is part of PAS.

Hadi also stressed that the meeting today decided to maintain the party’s stand to not dissolve the legislative assemblies of the states it governs – Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.

Party deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had announced on October 6 that the three state governments would not dissolve their assemblies at the same time as Parliament if a general election was called soon.

This was after PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that the PAS-led state governments would not dissolve their respective state assemblies earlier than March 2023.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission will be holding a special meeting to decide on the key dates for GE15 and the Bugaya state by-election in Sabah next Thursday (October 20).

Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced the dissolution of Parliament on Monday (October 10).

The Umno vice-president had been under pressure from his party’s top guns to seek a dissolution of Parliament from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the end of this year, despite pushback from various quarters who want the government to focus on the coming monsoon season. – The Vibes, October 13, 2022