Count us out of Pakatan 2.0 if Amanah’s in, PAS leaders say

(Malay Mail Online) – PAS will reject any offer to join a new federal opposition pact so long as it includes leaders from Parti Amanah Rakyat (Amanah), top leaders of the established Islamist party asserted today.

PAS leaders who spoke to Malay Mail Online also said neither PKR or any other opposition party have made attempts to reach out and include them in the proposed new coalition alliance that has been tentatively dubbed Pakatan Rakyat 2.0.

“For now, we will not join because we will not work with the Worker’s Party. I am not using the name Amanah to describe the new political party formed by ex-PAS leaders, because they have not even officially registered that name,” PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said when contacted.

“We will not work with them because they left PAS,” Mohd Amar added, referring to Amanah leaders.

Amanah recently announced that they will take over the dormant Malaysian Workers’ Party and secure at least 35,000 members by the end of the month.

The PAS leader pointed out that no one from PKR has even approached PAS to discuss the formation of a new opposition alliance.

“We have not even discussed anything. But I can affirm that PAS will not be affected by this new worker’s party,” he said.

PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi told Malay Mail Online that as far as he was concerned, the old PR pact was still functioning as his party still maintained a working relationship with PKR.

“No discussions about Pakatan 2.0 because it’s not been formed, we don’t see who, what or how the PR 2.0 is going to be like.

“So it is business as usual for us,” he said.

Earlier today, top PKR leaders said that PAS was needed in the new alliance in order to defeat the ruling Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

They urged all opposition parties to put aside their differences and to work towards forming a strong, viable federal coalition before the 14th general election.

“No party can decide unilaterally. We must put aside our differences, we are facing a major crisis,” PKR deputy president Azmin Ali told reporters when met after a press conference at the party’s headquarters here.

Azmin said PKR is adopting an “open” approach on the matter and will do its best to keep a healthy working relationship with PAS.

“We are open to all individuals, we are very consistent in PKR.

“We are meeting all parties, DAP, Amanah and president says she will meet PAS… it is a process,” he added, referring to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Earlier at a press conference here, Dr Wan Azizah said that Malaysians should give opposition parties “time” to sort out their differences.

“Give us time to work it out. we want them to come [onboard the new PR] including the members of PAS… anybody not only PAS, also Sabah and Sarawak people to come [join us],” she explained.

Yesterday, DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh demanded Azmin make a clear stand on whether his party will continue to work with PAS as this will determine the makeup of the new opposition coalition that will replace the now-defunct PR.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said Azmin cannot simply dismiss concerns raised by DAP’s leadership over the latter’s apparent preference to continue working with the Islamist opposition party.

Ramkarpal claimed further that it was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who was responsible for the breakup of PR and the recent mass exodus from his own party of so-called progressive leaders, who have gone on to create Parti Amanah Negara.

The DAP man stressed that Abdul Hadi even said that PAS will not take part in a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and that PAS members are not barred from joining a September 16 counter-rally to the Bersih 4 demonstrations over the past Merdeka weekend.