PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today outlined a formula for his party to work with BN through Perikatan Nasional in upcoming elections, with the aim of defeating Pakatan Harapan.
Speaking at the Johor PAS convention in Ayer Hitam, Hadi confirmed that the party intends to retain the four states it currently governs - Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis.
In other states, he said PAS was prepared to make way for BN to form the government, as in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
“That is why we (PAS) want ummah unity. Let Umno govern Johor; Kelantan, Terengganu, and Perlis, let us PAS (govern because we became the government) earlier,” he said.
The Marang MP then explained why he believed the “formula” should be accepted.
Hadi said PAS had demonstrated “no corruption” and established a “clean government” during its 30 years governing Kelantan.
He added that non-Muslims need not be concerned, as the future government would not consist solely of PAS but would include other parties to demonstrate how “Islam governs”.
“(PAS) governs together (in) a multiracial society.
“We want to show how Islam governs,” he said in his opening speech.
Hadi’s proposal broadly mirrors one floated earlier this week by Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii, who called for a “give and take” arrangement between BN and PN.
Razlan suggested PN should give BN room to govern states in the south, with similar compromises made in the northern and east coast states controlled by PN.
PAS members ‘guard the goal’
Hadi’s remarks came as PAS, which dominates control of PN, has yet to reach an understanding with BN over the Malacca state election, with the state assembly expected to be dissolved soon.
The situation differs from the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, where the two coalitions reached understandings aimed at avoiding multi-cornered contests that could benefit Harapan.
The main sticking point in PN-BN discussions is the number of seats each side would contest.
BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said the coalition intends to defend all 21 of the 28 Malacca seats it won in the 2021 state election.
Malacca PAS initially targeted 16 seats, including 15 held by BN.
However, it has since softened its position, with PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad saying earlier this week that PN could contest only five or six seats.
He said seat demands should reflect each coalition’s actual strength and warned against quarrelling over allocations.
BN, meanwhile, has not formally committed to extending its cooperation with PN to Malacca and has kept the door open to talks with Harapan.
Zahid previously said talks involving all parties would be held before any political understanding was finalised.
The Malacca polls are expected to be held soon, although the state legislature is only due to be dissolved in December.
On the cooperation, Hadi said PAS had made sacrifices for BN in the Johor election on July 11, to the extent that it failed to win a single seat.
He said this left some PAS supporters disappointed.
“PAS members were sad; we got nothing, no seats (in Johor)... we took the position that PAS members would guard the goal while Umno became the striker.
“Umno became the striker, we defended, and told PAS members to vote for Umno,” he said.
PAS publicly instructed its members and supporters to vote for BN candidates in Johor constituencies where it was not contesting.
Zahid acknowledged PAS’ support during the campaign but maintained that it did not amount to a new formal alliance between Umno and PAS.
PAS willing to play junior role
Hadi today also warned that BN could lose Johor if PN fielded candidates in all 56 state seats.
“In the Johor election, if PAS contested everywhere, BN contested everywhere, Harapan would win again.
“PAS is not strong in Johor; Umno is very strong. So we contested 11 seats while Umno (BN) contested all of them,” he said.
“During the election we issued a statement telling PAS members to vote for Umno. PAS members were confused, Umno members were confused.
“(The purpose of the instruction was) to prevent Harapan from winning. If there were multi-cornered contests, Johor would fall (to Harapan),” he added.
Hadi also said PAS was willing to be the junior partner in the Negeri Sembilan government to defeat Harapan and pave the way for BN to return to power.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has since suggested that the Negeri Sembilan arrangement could serve as a basis for negotiations in Malacca, although he stressed that talks should be conducted on equal terms without a “big brother, little brother” approach. - Mkini
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