PAS presidential candidate Ahmad Awang said today he was previously offered the position of speaker by Umno if he agreed to form a unity government with the ruling party in Perak when the state was under Pakatan Rakyat's rule in 2008.
"When I was working for the government, Umno repeatedly asked me to join them. I held on to my principle, but if I had wanted the world, wanted money and position, I would have followed and become an Umno member.
“In fact, the last offer I received from Umno was when Pakatan set up the Perak government. If I had agreed to PAS and Umno setting up government, it would be a different story now," he told the Malay daily.
Ahmad has been criticised for his refusal to agree to Umno's proposal with critics claiming that he was the reason a Malay-Islam government in Perak was not formed.
This afternoon, PAS delegates will vote new office-bearers, and Ahmad is challenging incumbent Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for the president's post.
Ahmad said his challenge had caused some anxiety within Umno.
"It is not unusual for Umno to become anxious and use their media to taint me as I am strong in my principles, that is Islam," he added.
Ahmad is the underdog in the contest for the PAS presidency but has said he is confident of defeating Hadi. The party elections are being held at PAS's annual congress starting today until Saturday.
- TMI
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