Forget PAS, let it sink with BN, Zaid tells PH

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PETALING JAYA: PAS is a thing of the past, Zaid Ibrahim said yesterday.

He advised opposition pact Pakatan Harapan and its new ally, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to move on.

The former de facto law minister said there was no way PAS would ever join Pakatan, especially as it is now indebted to Prime Minister Najib Razak and Umno, which had helped the Islamist party further its cause to strengthen shariah courts.

“Don’t be a clown (badut). We have to use our brain. If you want to be a clown, then continue the idiocy (of pursuing PAS).

“But (the right thing to do is) to say that ‘these are our principles, our causes, and our symbol’. Whoever agrees to that, give them a timeframe (to make it official).

“Those who don’t agree with that, let them be. Isn’t that much simpler? But, of course, some people like to do the extra work,” he said in an interview with FMT.

Zaid was asked to comment on PPBM President Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to postpone the party’s official entry into Pakatan, which some claimed was motivated by his hope that PAS would relent and agree to also join the pact.

Muhyiddin, along with PKR Deputy President Mohamed Azmin Ali, had, during the Pakatan convention last Saturday, emphasised the importance of PAS’ participation to ensure a straight fight against the Barisan Nasional (BN).

This is because studies and past elections have shown that in a multi-cornered fight, the BN is bound to come out victorious.

Zaid, however, sees this differently. He said as PAS no longer had influential figures such as the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat, it had lost its appeal among the Malays.

He also described PAS as an “aimless” party that was obsessed with its plan to one day implement hudud law in Malaysia.

“Why are we so afraid of PAS (breaking the Malay votes)? PAS will lose, so let them be with BN. Then they both will sink, which is the ideal situation for the opposition.

“Besides, aren’t PPBM and PKR a party for the Malays and Muslims as well? Why do we need PAS, the Malay-Arab party?

“Without Pakatan, PAS has no chance of attaining a seat in Selangor. They may not even be able to retain Kelantan. PAS knows this, but it is indebted to Najib. So let them be,” he added.