‘PAS will never join Barisan’

(The Star) – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang says that there will be no cooperation between the party and Barisan Nasional.

Although such cooperation existed during the 1970s, he said such collaboration would not happen again.

“PAS will never join Barisan. Our stance has been firm and clear.

“But we will still work with them in tackling national and development issues.

“For example, we can work together when Malaysia is under attack by foreign powers. Or, when we need to tackle national and social issues such as drug abuse and worsening crime rate or the influx of refugees.

“We want to be the opposition party that advises the Government,” he said after attending a PAS Dewan Muslimat (women’s wing) high-tea convention here yesterday.

Abdul Hadi was also asked on the allegation by former PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa that the PAS president had wanted to form a unity government with Umno in Selangor.

“Let him declare an oath claiming that he is telling the truth and that we (PAS) are lying,” he added.

In Kota Baru, Husam said although he did not have the evidence, he was willing to divorce his wife if his allegation was false.

“I know that (former Selangor PAS commissioner) Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, and former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa had met Umno leaders at a hotel a few years ago and I know what was discussed.

“I knew about it because a hotel bellboy who was against the Umno-PAS pact had alerted me,” he said at a dialogue session on Friday.

He was asked by a participant whether he would swear before the Quran that he had evidence of the alleged move by Abdul Hadi to set up the Selangor unity government.

Husam, who pledged to remain in PAS, claimed that he was critical of the PAS leadership and the Kelantan government as the leaders had deviated from the aspirations of the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“I have no other motive but to bring the party back to its original path.

“I know that I am an outcast among PAS leaders, but I shall play my role as the sole critic against anyone who goes against the party’s principles,” he added.

Husam has been criticising the state government on several issues, including the logging concessions.