KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu will not obstruct PAS or any Perikatan Nasional (PN) component parties from forming political alliances with Umno to face the looming 15th general election, said its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a press conference today, Muhyiddin said his party respects PAS’ decision and strategies, if any, as its stance is to adhere to the unification of the ummah.
Although it is an effort PAS has decided to make, he said he is unsure whether it will bear visible fruit.
“If we look at history, we wanted to join Muafakat Nasional (MN) but were rejected, although unofficially,” he said in a press conference after chairing the National Recovery Council (NRC) meeting this morning.
“So this is the effort PAS wants to make. Whether it will work, wallahualam (God only knows).
“I can’t be sure because previous statements from Umno and its president say that MN will not continue.”
Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairman, was responding to press questions pertaining to PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s statement that the Islamist party would continue to defend its relationship with Umno.
Samsuri, who is also the Terengganu menteri besar, said the agenda of Muslim unity should supersede political survival and is the main reason why PAS continues to defend its ties with Umno through MN.
However, Muhyiddin said he was informed by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri meeting, that the party would remain steadfast in PN.
“From PN’s point of view, we (Bersatu) are still with PN and PAS. In my meeting with the president and secretary-general during Hari Raya, they said PAS remains ‘istiqamah’ (steadfast) in PN.
“Eventually, we will sit together to discuss what is best for PN and more importantly, what is best for the nation. That, I think, is what needs attention,” said Muhyiddin. – The Vibes, May 17, 2022
