PAS would rather crawl for Allah than befriend ‘feet-kissers’

The Islamist party is confident of winning more seats on its own.

GEORGE TOWN: It is difficult for PAS to work with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) because the party led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still allied with those against PAS’ Islamic principles, says a youth leader of the Islamist party.

Penang PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said cooperation between the two parties might not be possible even if Mahathir were to “kiss the feet” of PAS leaders.

He said any alliance struck with PAS must benefit Islam as a whole.

“PAS’ utmost priority and the final goal in the party’s struggle is to please Allah.

“We would rather crawl to please Allah – that is the more noble thing to do – than to be friends with someone who is willing to kiss someone’s feet to be in power.

“Perhaps Mahathir does not yet understand our party’s principles,” Afnan told FMT.

Afnan was responding to Mahathir’s remarks about cooperation between PPBM and PAS.

Mahathir had said PAS had a month to decide if it wished to form an alliance with PPBM to avoid three-cornered fights in the general election, expected to be called this year.

He said he had done his best to convince PAS to be friends, short of falling at and kissing the leaders’ feet, which he did not wish to do.

He said it was premature of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to call off the PPBM-PAS proposed alliance, which would put the Islamist party on the losing end.

Mahathir predicted that PAS would “lose badly” in the next polls if it stood on its own.

Afnan scoffed at Mahathir’s prediction, saying that it was merely his opinion that PAS would lose.

“We have principles. Even though those on the side of truth may be few, they may yet overcome many enemies with the blessings and ‘redha’ (acceptance) of Allah.

“This has been shown in the history of Islam.”

Afnan said PAS was confident of winning a bigger share of seats in the next polls as surveys showed that many Malay Muslims were turning to PAS.

“Although we expect three-cornered fights for sure, PAS is confident of winning more seats. People will realise that no party is able to form a government without PAS.” -FMT