Leave DAP if you want us, PAS tells suitors
(MMO) – Amid calls for reconciliation, PAS has told prospective parties today to abandon DAP if they wish to enter into a political alliance with the Islamist party.
According to PAS, it is time for the country’s oldest opposition party to “lead the change” in the country, and every party is invited to join its own coalition, Gagasan Sejahtera, as long as they respect PAS’s principles and its Islamic struggles.
“The reality is, DAP is still adamant in opposing the Islam that PAS is fighting for. As such, PAS’s current policy is to reject DAP and any parties that support and cooperate with DAP,” the party information chief Datuk Nasrudin Hassan said in a statement here.
“Therefore, the simple equation for those who wish to be with PAS is to leave DAP and come to PAS with a high level of loyalty and obey a simple condition, that is to respect PAS’s principles and do not oppose the Islam that PAS is fighting for.”
PAS’s ultimatum came as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed today that negotiations with PAS must be dealt with before the Opposition parties can discuss any mutual agreement for a larger coalition pact.
The de facto PKR leader currently serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy confirmed today the three-party Pakatan Harapan pact is working to pull the conservative Islamist party to its side, after talking to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia pro-tem president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin earlier today.
But Nasrudin today mocked those who hope for PAS to join their own political coalition in order to ensure a one-to-one fight against ruling Barisan Nasional and Umno.
“I see them as having a delusion on the local political stage, perhaps as an effect from the hastiness to form new parties, that they thought would give them a quick victory against Umno and BN in the next general elections,” the Temerloh MP said.
“Therefore, it is not unusual when they are constantly attacking PAS with the goal of diluting PAS’s influence and support. They insult and belittle PAS as a party that cannot compete and work with them towards the victory line for the upcoming 14th general elections.”
PAS has so far maintained that it will not join any coalition that includes its breakaway Parti Amanah Negara or the DAP, with which it had a falling out last year over its Shariah Bill proposal.
In August, PAS and Ikatan formally announced the establishment of Gagasan Sejahtera, but said it would still be open to cooperation with other parties including Pakatan Harapan.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said while Gagasan exists to provide an “alternative avenue” for voters “bored” of the existing political dichotomy, it was still open to the idea of engaging all parties, especially on the matter of seat allocations.
