Terengganu Pas threatens to contest all state seats if Umno refuses to cooperate

 

Terengganu Pas Commissioner Senator Datuk Husain Awang said Pas took the approach that to achieve unity of the ummah, there must be solidarity among all three Malay parties who must come together to meet the needs of the changing political landscape. -NSTP/GHAZALI KORI

KUALA NERUS: Terengganu Pas has threatened to nominate candidates for all 32 state assembly seats in the East Coast state, in the event the state Umno refuses to cooperate for the 15th General Election (GE15).

Terengganu Pas Commissioner Senator Datuk Husain Awang said Pas took the approach that to achieve unity of the ummah, there must be solidarity among all three Malay parties who must come together to meet the needs of the changing political landscape.

"PAS is trying to save the Malay political power, race and religion, not to rescue certain individuals or party and Pas still maintains such an approach.

"We are trying to avoid (a contest) but if Terengganu Umno is still firm with their attitude (in not cooperating) then we are prepared.

"If Umno behaves in such a manner, then we will take a similar approach. If it's 32 (seats) let it be 32 seats," he said after receiving his Covid-19 inoculation at the Gong Badak Indoor Stadium Vaccine Center here today.

He said this in response to a statement by Terengganu Umno Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said who said the BN component member would not cooperate with the Islamist party in GE15.

Terengganu Umno reportedly said it was set to contest GE15 under the BN umbrella and rejected cooperation with Pas which is alleged as being dishonest and had violated the terms of the Muafakat Nasional (MN) memorandum of understanding (MoU) during its establishment on Sept 14, 2019.

Husain added that Ahmad's statement also does not reflect the BN component member's overall approach as Perak Umno had stated their intention to cooperate with the Islamist party in GE15.

On whether Pas would meet with Ahmad to discuss the relations between the two parties, Husain said that would depend on instructions or decisions from the respective party's central leadership.

"This directive is certainly not made solely to measure the situation in Terengganu but according to the interests and needs of all parties, including Umno throughout the country," he said.

Terengganu has 32 state seats and during GE14, PAS won 22 seats while another 10 seats were won by BN.

The east coast state also has eight Parliament seats which sees Pas holding six seats, Umno (1) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (1). - NST