Hadi: No need for ceasefire, PAS not at war

(MMO) – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has again downplayed his deputy Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s call for ceasefire within opposition parties, saying the latter was instead misunderstood.

Abdul Hadi also reportedly insisted that a ceasefire was never required as the party was not fighting anyone, and has always been open to cooperate with those willing to accept its Islamic agenda.

“We are not at war with anyone, there’s no need for a ceasefire.

“PAS takes the approach of cooperating with everyone with the condition, don’t touch the policies and goals of the Islamic party,” the Islamist party leader was quoted saying by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian.

The Marang MP claimed that excerpts of Tuan Ibrahim’s recent statement had been misinterpreted in news reports, stressing that PAS can work together with anyone as long as there is no deviation from the policy to uphold the struggle of Islam.

He said that PAS had twice ceased working together with political allies over such disputes, including its 1979 exit from a pact with Umno over an alleged anti-Islam group within the ruling party.

According to Sinar Harian, Hadi claimed DAP was forced to quit the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat after PAS insisted on its struggle for Islam.

He said that those who accept PAS can join its third political bloc which is currently composed of one other party, Ikatan, and 50 non-governmental organisations.

Earlier this month, Tuan Ibrahim called on opposition parties to stop their infighting to move forward as a united front against their common enemy ― Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), but appeared to backtrack a day later on his call for a ceasefire and touted his party’s willingness to handle the next general elections alone if it has to compromise on its Islamic stand.

In response to Tuan Ibrahim’s call for ceasefire then, leaders from the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan had said they were ready to discuss the possibility of working together with PAS.

After Pakatan Rakyat fell apart following disputes between PAS and the DAP over the Islamist party’s insistence on implementing hudud law in Kelantan, Pakatan Harapan comprising of DAP, PKR and PAS offshoot Parti Amanah Negara was formed.