PAS hits back at Zahid on ‘traitor DNA’ label

 

PAS HAS questioned the accusation by UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the ‘traitor DNA’ label he gave the Islamic party for past betrayals.

Last week, Zahid had claimed that UMNO or Barisan Nasional would not return to cooperate with PAS if the party did not change its ‘traitorous’ attitude.

However, PAS Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said it is UMNO itself that has betrayed past  political cooperation.

He said he is still wondering what form of betrayal is often linked to PAS, as several past political episodes showed UMNO withdrawing support from governments formed together with Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“He (Zahid) broke the oath, how about that? Broke the decision of the UMNO Supreme Council (No Anwar, No DAP).

“I also want to know what betrayal is often repeated. Because throughout the formation of the government, we found UMNO to be the one that betrayed,” he said to the local media.

Tuan Ibrahim also said there were clear examples of UMNO’s actions in Johor, Melaka, and Perak, where the party withdrew support from the chief ministers of PN even though the government was formed jointly.

He then pointed out that it was UMNO who withdrew support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister (PM). This led to the downfall of Muhyiddin as PM and the rise of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the new PM.

“Likewise, who betrayed by withdrawing support from Muhyiddin as PM and replacing him with Ismail Sabri,” he questioned.

In his statement, Zahid had said his party would only consider reviving its cooperation with PAS if the Islamist party abandons its propensity for “betrayal”.

Zahid said he had initiated efforts to unite the Malay-Muslim community through Muafakat Nasional following the 14th General Election but claimed that PAS ultimately betrayed the cooperation.

“Betrayal is in their DNA. So if they remove that sense of betrayal from their hearts, perhaps we can consider it. If not, I think it is better for us to forget the idea,” he said. —  Focus Malaysia