Bersatu should choose us or Umno, says Abdul Hadi

Any political party that aspires to govern Malaysia should choose between working with PAS or Umno, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said in an interview today.

Abdul Hadi was responding to a question on the impact of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on Malay political power and how the Umno-splinter would further split the Malay votes.

"The Malay political power lies with PAS and Umno. Any parties that aspires to govern Malaysia, choose PAS or Umno," said Abdul Hadi in a full-page interview with Mingguan Malaysia, the Sunday edition of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

"We are open to any parties that wishes to cooperate with us, on condition that they accept Islam," he said.

Abdul Hadi had last month said that PAS will officially cut ties with Bersatu if it formally joins the Pakatan Harapan federal opposition pact.

Prior to its official becoming the fourth member of Pakatan Harapan, Bersatu had since late last year initiated attempts to forge a cooperation with PAS and prevent possible three-cornered fights in the next 14th general election.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin in February had also said that a separate agreement with PAS will lead to stronger ties between the opposition parties.

Saving country through Islam

Meanwhile, Abdul Hadi said the party's central leadership will first listen to views from grassroots during the muktamar in Kedah later this month, before proceeding with discussions over its relationship status with PKR.

Johor PAS Youth was among the latest to pass a resolution at its division meeting to sever ties with PKR, following several media reports which claimed that 12 out of 13 PAS divisions in Penang had passed similar resolutions.

On the focus of his speech at the muktamar this year, Abdul Hadi said he would emphasise on PAS' aspiration "to save the country with Islam".

"This is because after the proven failure of other religion and ideologies in solving economic, politic and moral problems, the time has come for Islam to be given the chance as a solution for the country.

"We want to change the existing system with an Islamic system, it is not enough just to change an individual," he said.- Mkini