PAS shoots down Bersatu's bid for self-defence against Hadi's criticisms

 

Tensions between PAS and its Perikatan Nasional coalition partner Bersatu continue to persist, with the Islamist party now vehemently denying assertions made by the latter over issues affecting PN.

In a Facebook post last night, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari accused the Bersatu political bureau of attempting to tarnish PAS’ credibility via its “inaccurate, misleading, and clearly malicious” May 24 statement.

Fadhli insisted that the statement, which was issued as a response to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s public criticisms against Bersatu, was part of a move by Bersatu to shift the blame over its supposed organisational failures.

In particular, the Pasir Mas MP took issue with Bersatu’s alleged “deliberate hiding” of its decision to name a candidate for the Perlis menteri besar post without consulting the PN supreme council.

“The allegation claiming that (Hadi) intentionally did not attend an audience before Perlis ruler Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail on Oct 25, 2025, is also untrue and completely baseless.

“(Hadi) was never summoned for an audience on that date, nor any date before or after the Perlis menteri besar crisis occurred,” Fadhli said.

Bersatu’s political bureau had earlier claimed that the royal audience, which was also supposed to be attended by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, was cancelled after Hadi, for unspecified reasons, could not attend.

Fadhli further denounced allegations that PAS had failed to provide any feedback throughout the Negeri Sembilan crisis, in reference to Bersatu’s claim that PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan had been unresponsive to his Bersatu counterpart Azmin Ali.

‘Entirely baseless’

Bersatu’s political bureau previously said that after Umno ultimately resolved to maintain the Pakatan Harapan-led state government in Negeri Sembilan, Takiyuddin had not responded to Azmin’s suggestion for PN to stand and oppose Umno’s change in position.

However, Fadhli yesterday said the claim is “entirely baseless,” emphasising that PAS is ready to “expose” detailed communication records between the two parties’ secretaries-general on a more appropriate platform.

“The unmentioned fact is also that the message from (Azmin) to (Takiyuddin) on May 6 - the day two Negeri Sembilan Bersatu assemblypersons issued media statements - was merely to inform of the decision by the central Bersatu political bureau emergency meeting to change its stance.

“(The change) directly contradicted PN’s stance that had been mutually agreed upon beforehand regarding the crisis in Negeri Sembilan,” Fadhli said.

Abdul Hadi Awang

Last week, Hadi warned that his party could reassess its cooperation with Bersatu, saying PAS’ patience “has a limit” when dealing with what he described as Bersatu’s unilateral actions.

Highlighting conflicts between the parties during the Perlis and Negeri Sembilan crisis, Hadi also cited a perceived failure to maintain internal discipline within the coalition. - Mkini