KOTA BARU: Tan Sri Annuar Musa revealed today he had personally made several attempts to reconcile differences between Pas and the factions within Bersatu to preserve unity within Perikatan Nasional.
The Pas central committee member said he had been entrusted by party leaders to help mediate between the opposing Bersatu groups in a bid to preserve unity within the opposition coalition.
"I was directly involved. I tried several times to broker peace. I met them in London and in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Annuar said Pas had requested that he explore ways to bring the two Bersatu sides together and prevent a split that could weaken PN.
"Pas asked me to find a way to reconcile the two groups, but in the end Pas issued an ultimatum. It became impossible to accommodate one of the groups," said the PN information chief.
Annuar said once reconciliation efforts failed, a decision had to be made on which side should be supported.
"If we were forced to choose one side, we had to assess which group was stronger and better positioned.
"Eventually, we chose the faction led by Bersatu's (then) deputy president (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin)," he said.
He said the objective throughout the mediation process had been to keep both groups together and strengthen PN as a united political force.
"We wanted both sides to remain. We even sent formal written proposals seeking reconciliation.
"I personally approached them and proposed peace efforts," he said.
Annuar said all initiatives were undertaken in good faith to prevent a breakdown in relations, adding that political differences should not have undermined broader cooperation within the coalition.
"When those differences could no longer be resolved, separation became the best option so that everyone could move forward," he said.
He added that the eventual split was necessary after repeated attempts at reconciliation failed, allowing both sides to chart their own course and continue their political struggle independently.
On June 8, Pas announced the termination of its political cooperation with Bersatu following a special meeting of the party's central working committee.
In a statement, party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had said the committee endorsed a decision made by the syura council on June 2 concerning policy, religious considerations and public interest aspects of Pas' political cooperation, based on the principle of Muslim unity. - NST
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