PAS is looking for a ‘backdoor’ into Johor Government, says UMNO man

(Focus Malaysia) – PAS’ attempt to secure a meeting with Johor UMNO chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad is an attempt to “save themselves” and ensure that they stay in government.

Johor UMNO deputy chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said this in an exclusive interview with news portal Malaysiakini.

He also pointed out that PAS knew that it had a weak footing in Johor and was now attempting to ride on UMNO’s coattails.

“Why should we help weak (parties)? In Melaka, they have proven (they are weak). They did not ally with us and lost everything,” he was reported as saying.

“At the time, we offered them rights to field five candidates but they chose to go with Perikatan Nasional (PN). Support for PAS in Johor is akin to that in Melaka – very little.”

Nur Jazlan went on to claim that PAS was now looking for a “backdoor” into the Johor Government and that while they wanted to cooperate, they were “not sincere”.

He was commenting on ongoing attempts by the Johor PAS leadership to seek a meeting with Hasni a day after the Johor MB had announced that Barisan Nasional (BN) – a coalition led by UMNO – will not be seeking further alliances.

Johor PAS commissioner Abdullah Hussin said a meeting was sought on Sunday but that was unsuccessful.

According to Nur Jazlan, he had no intention of meeting with Johor PAS leaders as UMNO’s leadership and grassroots had already come to a decision that they must cut ties with the PN coalition of which PAS is a member of.

However, he also pointed out that it was Hasni’s prerogative to do so.

“Regardless, anything which Hasni does must be referred to the Johor UMNO leadership because our democratic system reflects the wishes of the grassroots,” he noted.

“He cannot make his own decisions, unlike PAS, where (Abdul) Hadi (Awang) can decide for his members.”

Nur Jazlan further commented that the UMNO annual delegates assembly had made it clear in the past that the party was not allowed to work with Bersatu, and therefore, the insistence of PAS for a BN-PN pact was untenable.

“(Two days ago) PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang said he had met PN leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and stated a preference for PN because they are ‘honest’ so what’s more left to discuss?”