PETALING JAYA: A former PAS leader has suggested the Islamist party to ditch its current pact with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to team up with Umno in the 15th general election for better chance at winning seats.
Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali argued that cooperation between PAS and Umno can galvanise immense public support, as both parties cumulatively consist of over three million members.
The former syura member also added that potential discontent among PAS party members can be simmered down if the Islamist party opt to leverage on its coalition with Umno.
“We need to look into the goal of the coalition. If it’s to simmer down a potential clash among PAS grassroots members, the right strategy would be to cooperate with Umno.
“If it’s to empower Islam with the supports of the Muslim, so, the solution is the same – to form a pact with Umno,” he told The Star.
He added that the party should not go solo in the upcoming polls as history showed that the party has always been in a coalition.
“It is just a matter of who is in the coalition,” the former PAS central working committee member added.
Commenting on PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s decision to use Perikatan Nasional’s logo in the upcoming general election (GE15), Khairuddin said the party should conduct an in-depth study.
“The public is already familiar with the PAS logo compared to Perikatan’s.
“There’s nothing wrong for PAS to use Perikatan’s logo to gain more support but a cautious study must be done to avoid the move from jeopardising the party,” he added.
On his departure from PAS earlier March this year, the Kuala Nerus MP explained that he had never gone against the Islamist party, instead he resigned in accordance with the party’s constitution.
“I might have differing opinions with Tuan Guru (Abdul Hadi) when it comes to the party’s direction. But, that’s his right.
“I would leverage on my position as someone from outside the party to share my views independently and to call for the unity of the Muslims across the political divide,” he added.
Khairuddin claimed that some PAS leaders and members echoed the same struggle as his, however, out of respect to Abdul Hadi, they decided to stay in the party.
“The grassroots have witnessed that the muafakat (pact) between PAS members and Umno in some areas has resolved clashes.
“Families that used to be hostile to each other for having different political views have now put their differences aside.
“They (grassroot members) desire the same but they have to follow what the supreme leadership has chosen for the party,” he mentioned, in reference to the party’s leadership favouring a coalition with Bersatu over Umno.
The relationship between PAS and Umno has turned sour since the party chose to cooperate with Bersatu under Perikatan chaired by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PAS, which contested under the Perikatan ticket in the Melaka state election, failed to win any of the eight seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) represented by the party’s candidates.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional succeeded in forming the Melaka state government with a two-thirds majority after winning 21 of the 28 seats contested while Perikatan only won two seats represented by Bersatu candidates.
During the Johor state election, PAS once again contested under the Perikatan ticket and only secured one of the 15 seats contested by its candidates while Barisan won 40 of the total 56 state assembly.