PAS has questioned why it should be asked to prove its commitment to political cooperation when UMNO has yet to give up a single state seat to the party.
PAS election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was responding to UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s suggestion that a state election in one of the SG4 states, particularly Terengganu, could be used to test the sincerity of political cooperation.
Sanusi said UMNO had not made way for PAS in Johor or Negeri Sembilan, and was instead focused on retaining the seats it already held.
“Let Tok Mat tell PAS which UMNO seats have been given to PAS in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, or in Melaka later.
“If not a single UMNO seat has been given to PAS, why test PAS’ sincerity in other states when UMNO’s sincerity so far has simply been to defend what it already has?
“They are also competing for seats they do not hold, including those held by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and parties outside Barisan Nasional (BN),” he told Berita Harian.
Mohamad, who is also Rembau MP, had said a state election in the SG4 grouping could provide a clearer indication of whether political partners were genuinely committed to working together.
He said it could also show whether calls for Malay unity were based on genuine cooperation or merely served the interests of one side.
SG4 comprises Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, all governed by PAS.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, meanwhile, said there was no reason for Terengganu to hold an early state election, citing the state’s political stability and the performance of its administration.
He said elections should not be treated as a test of political alliances as they were ultimately about securing a mandate from the people.
“Unless there is an urgent need, the people should not be burdened with political pressure and the cost of holding a state election,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said the state elections in Johor and Negri Sembilan, as well as the upcoming poll in Melaka, were being held because their respective terms had ended or circumstances required them.
He said the formula used in Negri Sembilan — retaining seats already held while reaching an agreement on seats not previously won — offered a better model for political cooperation.
He also suggested that the next step should be at the federal level, with Parliament dissolved to seek a fresh mandate.
“The ball is now in the court of BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
“What is important is that PN has directed its entire machinery to prepare for any eventuality,” he said. – September 14, 2026
