Dr Mahfodz: PAS vying to become ‘kingmaker’

(The Star) – PAS is vying to become the “kingmaker” and form the next ruling government after the polls, said its syura council chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed (pic).

“If we secure 40 parliamentary seats, we can be the kingmaker as Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan will not have enough seats to form the government.

“They will then have to negotiate with us,” said Dr Mahfodz during a ceramah at Parit Gantong here on Friday (March 30) night.

As kingmaker, he said that PAS would be in the position to impose conditions on either Barisan or Pakatan. 

“We do not want the post of prime minister, power or position but to be the ‘kingmaker’.

“The condition is that they (either Barisan or Pakatan) uphold Islam and form an Islamic government,” he stressed.

There are 222 parliament seats with 112 seats needed to form the majority government.

Dr Mahfodz said it was not too far-fetched for PAS to achieve its goal of 40 parliamentary seats as the party will field a record number of candidates in the general election.

He cited the example of Johor, where PAS intends to contest a total of 59 parliamentary and state seats.

“For the first time, PAS will contest in 40 out of the 56 state seats and 19 out of the 26 parliamentary seats,” he added.

In the last general election, PAS contested in eight parliamentary and 31 state seats.

The party however, only managed to win four state seats – Sungai Abong, Maharani, Puteri Wangsa and Parit Yaani – which is now held by Parti Amanah Negara.

On implementation of hudud, Dr Mahfodz said he was asked by party members why it has yet to be done.

He clarified that the this would be done through accepted processes once PAS comes to power.