Bersatu’s greed for power led PAS to cut ties, says Hadi

 The PAS president accuses Bersatu of losing sight of the struggle for the ummah's unity.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang accused Bersatu of seeking political power over Muslims but sharing it with non-Muslim parties, without regard for the position of Islam or the Malays. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang says his party was obligated to cut ties with Bersatu, as the latter had become greedy for seats and power rather than acting in the interest of the ummah’s unity.

In his “Minda Presiden PAS” (President’s Thoughts) column, he accused Bersatu of seeking political power over Muslims but sharing it with non-Muslim parties, without regard for the position of Islam or the Malays.

“Its leaders’ opportunistic behaviour has hindered the original struggle to unite the ummah. It was, therefore, necessary for PAS to take firm measures to uphold its principled struggle,” he said.

Hadi accused Bersatu of downplaying PAS’s “role in exploring political change” and of “making a fool” of the party by objecting to the admission of new Malay-Muslim parties into Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“Bersatu also wanted seats during the last general election (GE15) without regard for candidates’ qualifications, machinery capabilities or member numbers (in the respective constituencies).

“(Bersatu’s leaders) were nowhere to be seen on the ground, leaving PAS members to work like forced labourers for candidates who were unqualified and lacked their own (election) machinery,” he said.

Hadi also pointed to Bersatu’s “immoral” sacking of leaders, including its former deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

“(The loss of these leaders) has jeopardised PN’s strength and damaged its dignity,” he said.

These are Hadi’s first official remarks since his announcement on Monday that PAS had decided to cut ties with the party led by Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said PAS would now explore forming a new political pact to face the upcoming state elections and the next general election (GE16) with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

Prior to the announcement, Hadi said several issues had strained ties between the two parties, including the move to unseat the Perlis menteri besar, alleged interference in appointments in Kedah and Kelantan, and Bersatu’s opposition to admitting new Malay-Muslim parties into PN. - FMT