With temperatures rising amid speculation of a general election, PAS today issued a stern warning to Bersatu, even stating that the party may review its cooperation with the latter.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang stressed that his party has remained patient with unilateral actions that he claimed that Bersatu had taken.
“We are not disappointed… we are patient, (but) patience has its limits,” he told a press conference in Rusila, Terengganu.
The Marang MP said the unilateral actions include withdrawing support for state governments and perceived failures in maintaining internal party discipline.
The first matter concerned two Negeri Sembilan Bersatu assemblypersons who withdrew their statutory declarations supporting the removal of Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun over the ongoing dispute between the state nobility.
Hadi described the move as a violation of the camaraderie between both parties, adding that PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has sent a letter to Bersatu concerning the matter.
“We cannot accept the reasons given. Umno did not withdraw (their support). Why did Bersatu withdraw (theirs)?” he asked.
‘Why no action against errant reps?’
The second issue involved Bersatu’s actions in Perlis, where the party initiated a coup that led to PAS losing the state government.
“We (PAS) took disciplinary action against our assemblypersons, and Bersatu did nothing,” Hadi lamented, referring to the sacking of three PAS elected representatives who were involved.
“We were still patient then because we wanted to maintain PN unity,” he added.
Apart from that, Hadi said the coordination of the Kedah and Kelantan exco and deputy speakers’ posts was also unsatisfactory.
He said Bersatu had requested to sack and replace former party members from those posts, but PAS disagreed, as they had carried out their duties well.
Further, Bersatu had blocked the expansion of PN as it did not agree to having more parties join the coalition, Hadi said.
“(Bersatu) blocked the membership of Malay-Muslim parties, including non-Muslim parties that are not extreme, from joining PN,” he claimed.
Bersatu wants seats, PAS brought manpower
He went on to cite other perceived imbalances, saying that so far, Bersatu has contributed more election candidates than party officers and machinery.
“They sit around talking about how many thousands of members they have, but when we go to the ground, there are only our members.
“PAS will not bow to Bersatu’s wishes this time,” he asserted.
When asked whether PAS will contest the upcoming general election on its own, Hadi said the Islamist party is still leading PN.
“There is no solo contest for PAS for it is still the PN chair,” he said.
However, he expressed confidence that PAS’ stance will not affect its relationship with other component parties in PN, which is chaired by Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
“PAS is not affected, and we are ready to face the election at any time.
“We will see all the negative and positive aspects of the steps taken (by Bersatu), and there will be a decision (before the general election),” he said.
In an immediate response, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the party takes Hadi's statement seriously and would discuss the issues he raised in the party's next top leadership meeting.
"Bersatu is of the view that any issue raised should be looked into carefully based on the spirit of friendship, understanding and collective responsibility towards strengthening PN's unity.
"Thus, Bersatu would look into all the matters that have been raised and discuss them in depth in Bersatu's upcoming political bureau and supreme council meetings," he said in a statement. - Mkini
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