PAS in no hurry about new party, says Hadi

(Bernama) – The Islamic party PAS is in no hurry about whether to be part of a new opposition alliance proposed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said yesterday: “I also cannot comment much as it does not exist yet, the pact does not exist, we do not know if it will be allowed by the government or not.”

Any decision would be made after the PAS central committee, political committee and the Majlis Syura Ulama (Ulama Council) have studied the matter in detail, he told reporters after his weekly religious class in Rusila here on Friday.

He said he viewed the formation of the new pact as being chaotic, as it had the sole aim of toppling the current government, which contradicted PAS’ stand of changing the ‘character’ of the government to become better.

Dr Mahathir had announced the proposal to form a new party which would enter an alliace of all opposition parties, including PKR, DAP and Amanah to fight the Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

Among those who are said to be interested in the new party are former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin; former Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal and Dr Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, who is a former Kedah menteri besar.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has said that PAS would revive ties with PKR and DAP (its former partners in Pakatan Rakyat) to ensure victory in the coming election, to which Abdul Hadi said PAS always had good relations with everyone, including the parties in the government.

However, PAS would only work with parties that wanted progressive changes and supported its policies and struggle to uphold Islamic principles in the country, he said.

Pakatan Rakyat fell apart last year on objections by the DAP to the PAS-led Kelantan state government’s new law to provide for Islamic criminal penalties and Hadi’s move to table a constitutional amendment to broaden the powers of shariah courts.

The amendment, labelled the “hudud Bill” by critics, was tabled in Parliament in May. He said PAS could see there was support from various parties but it would not work with any party which opposed the bill.