KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) rejected Pejuang’s application to join the coalition as it would complicate seat negotiations among its component parties in the coming election in six states.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Pejuang’s status as a “small party” was also unappealing to help the coalition to “unite the ummah”.
“Elections are close. We discussed how accepting them (Pejuang) would complicate the ongoing negotiations for seats,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
“It (Pejuang) is not a major (Malay) party like Umno and Bersatu. Even though Pejuang contests in elections, it loses almost every one of them, even losing their deposits.”
Wanting to boost its survival in the coming state elections, Tuan Ibrahim said Pejuang is looking for political partners in a bid to retain seats in Kedah and Selangor.
“I believe they know they do not stand a chance if they go it alone and this is why they are looking for partners.”
In Kedah, Pejuang holds the Anak Bukit and Jitra state seats, the latter held by party president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Pejuang also holds Selangor’s Jeram and Kuang state seats.
Tuan Ibrahim added that it is better for Pejuang to dissolve and for its members to join PAS or Bersatu instead.
“That’s better than having many small parties.”
On March 21, PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that the coalition had rejected Pejuang’s bid to be part of the coalition.
The announcement was made following a PN meeting chaired by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin a day prior.
While Hamzah did not explain the coalition’s decision, he said the meeting was attended by component representatives, including PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Abdul Awang and Gerakan counterpart Datuk Dominic Lau. – The Vibes, March 24, 2023
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