Dr M: I doubt PAS can ever form government on its own

The former prime minister advises the Islamist party not to become spoilers by splitting the Malay votes.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad hopes PAS will not be a spoilsport in the opposition coalition’s attempt to win the 14th general election (GE14).

He said it was sad to see PAS not being cooperative with the opposition coalition, which comprises DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).

“I doubt PAS can ever form a government on their own,” the New Straits Times quoted Mahathir as saying.

The PPBM chairman said PAS, in their attempt to be kingmakers, should not become spoilers by splitting the Malay votes between Pakatan Harapan, Umno and the Islamist party.

“This will only allow the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) to win,” Mahathir said in his “Save Malaysia Tour” speech in Besut, Terengganu, yesterday.

He reminded PAS that it stood a better chance of winning seats by forging ties with the opposition bloc.

He said PAS won more seats when it was in the opposition coalition in the 2013 general election than when the party went it alone in one of the previous general elections.

In the 13th general election, DAP won 38 of the 51 parliamentary seats it contested, PKR 30 of the 99 seats, and PAS 21 of 73 seats.

The former prime minister, who led Umno and BN for 22 years, said BN more often than not wins in multi-cornered fights.

PAS has said the party is confident of securing a large number of seats not only in BN-ruled Terengganu, but also nationwide.

The Islamist party is determined to contest in 100 parliamentary seats as it will lead its own coalition of Gagasan Sejahtera Rakyat into the next general election. -FMT