Opposition can have two coalitions, PAS says

(Malay Mail Online) – Two coalitions can co-exist in the opposition, PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said today, again dismissing DAP’s claim months ago that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) no longer exists.

He insisted that PAS remains a component of PR and is still part of the Selangor government although DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Rakyat (Amanah) have formed Pakatan Harapan.

“We are still united… you see during Semangat 46 there were two pacts among the opposition parties. One between Semangat 46 and PAS – they called it Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah – to rule the Kelantan state.

“The other one they called it Gagasan Rakyat, with Semangat 46, DAP and a few other parties in Sabah and Sarawak.

“This can happen now. One is Pakatan Harapan and the other pact is the one with PAS and PKR,” Takiyuddin told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby today.

The Kota Baru MP also reminded PKR and DAP that it was because of PAS that PR had managed to resolve the Selangor mentri besar crisis last year without the government collapsing.

This should not be forgotten, he added.

“We are still together. Without us, there is no government last time. When the previous MB sacked all DAP (Exco), if not because of us, the government would have collapsed already,” he justified.

Despite DAP’s insistence to oust PAS from the Selangor government, Takiyuddin maintained that the Islamist party had a good working relationship with Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

“I don’t think so, they can insist but we still have a good relationship with MB.

“In politics you can’t look at Selangor alone. Look at Penang, without having PKR, can DAP rule Penang or not?” Takiyuddin queried.

The PR pact was declared dead by the DAP earlier this year after PAS decided during its June muktamar to sever ties with the former.

DAP, PKR and PAS offshoot Amanah have since regroup to form Pakatan Harapan without PAS, despite having a joint government with the Islamist party in Selangor.