Pakatan total shut down on Pas
(NST) – Pakatan Harapan has slammed its doors shut from working with Pas in the next general election.
Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there would be no co-operation with Pas including at the state-level nationwide.
“Pakatan will not co-operate with Pas in the 14th general election,” he told reporters after chairing the Pakatan presidential council meeting last night.
The pact, made up of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN), had a meeting for three hours.
Among top leaders present at the meeting were PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, his deputy Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.
Dr Mahathir, who is also former prime minister, said: “Pakatan is preparing a strategy for the possibility of three-cornered contests in the election.”
This came after Selangor Mentri Besar and PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali reportedly said his party needed to re-negotiate with Pas to avoid three-way electoral fights especially in the state.
However, no Pakatan leaders who were present last night would comment if they discussed the situation with Pas in Selangor.
They also refused to comment on PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s call for a special congress to resolve the matter among the opposition parties.
PAN deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said a “firm decision” was made among the Pakatan allies on their refusal to work with Pas.
In Shah Alam, PAN information director Khalid Samad said all Pakatan leaders at the meeting had unanimously agreed to stop wooing Pas to face the election.
He said Pakatan now intended to focus on strengthening its machinery to prepare for three-cornered fights.
“All Pakatan allies decided last night (Monday) that it was time for us to move forward and make a clear-cut stand on Pas.
“Pas has made it clear on its stand to contest all constituencies, so we also need to be clear to the people.
“This will allow people to know that Pakatan has nothing to do with Pas, that Pas is not with Pakatan,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday (Tuesday).
Khalid, who is also Shah Alam member of Parliament, said Pakatan did not plan to waste time trying to discuss with Pas anymore.
“The issue of ‘pecah undi’ (splitting of votes) is something that is inevitable. PKR had tried, so did PPBM, but none was successful.”
PAN youth wing welcomed the decision by Pakatan to completely cut ties with Pas.
In a statement yesterday, PAN youth chief Mohd Sany Hamzan said the people wanted a strong opposition to contest against BN in the election.
“Pas’ arrogance has no place in the opposition pact that practices cooperation among each other to achieve the goal of defeating the current government.
“For us, the decision of Pakatan will ease election preparations of the four allies nationwide,” he said.
In Alor Star, Kedah PKR shut its doors on any collaboration with Pas in the state following the decision by Pakatan presidential council.
Kedah PKR chief Dr Azman Ismail said the party would abide by the council’s decision.
“We had previously thought of opening our door to Pas but due to the new announcement, we will not proceed with our plan,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Dr Azman said Kedah PKR was ready to work with counterparts from DAP, PAN and PPBM in the election.
On a statement by Sungai Petani member of Parliamentarian Datuk Johari Abdul, who reportedly said that PKR planned to contest in 16 state seats in the election, Dr Azman said the former was voicing the views of the grassroots.
“We are negotiating with DAP, PAN and PPBM on seats allocation so what Johari said is not final,” he said.
