PAS will lose big if it leaves Pakatan, says Mat Taib

Mat Taib says PAS has been enjoying Chinese support since it joined the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, August 30, 2014.PAS should not take the easy way out and leave the Pakatan Rakyat coalition as that would cause the Islamist party to suffer a huge defeat in Selangor, said Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

The former Selangor menteri besar, who is also known as Mat Taib, reminded the party that Chinese voters had supported PAS since it joined the opposition pact.

"PAS will lose out as the Chinese will not want to vote for them any more. Do not carry Allahu Akhbar sentiments only, we need to be practical with the needs and mood of the voters.

"If we miscalculate, Pakatan will win and PAS will not obtain any votes. If there is an election in Selangor, I feel PAS will lose at least 10 seats," he said at a Merdeka forum in Universiti Selangor in Shah Alam today.

PAS had taken a different stand from its allies, PKR and DAP, in the Selangor menteri besar crisis by insisting on nominating more than one name to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

This was despite PR's stand in endorsing only one candidate, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for the state's top post.

On Thursday, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had asked PAS whether it was defying Pakatan's decision to nominate his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as the Selangor menteri besar, simply because she was a woman.

"Because this involves a woman's position, does this mean they are not ready to accept a woman as a leader? Th‎ey must consider this," Anwar had said.

Muhammad said based on his 10 years experience in helming the state, he understood the voting trends of the electorate and he felt PAS would be safer if they continue to be with the coalition.

He said regardless of whatever decision the party takes, there should be cognisance that Chinese voters do play an important role.

"This is based on my experience as MB. I know the trend, we should not be syok sendiri," he said in using the Malay word for self-indulgence.

"I think if PAS takes a new stand, they will lose a lot. The Chinese voters will leave and will not vote for PAS candidates. I have looked at the Selangor voters trend and found that PAS candidates did not win with a huge majorities.

"If PAS changes its stand and feels that it can stand on its own or for example, wants to form a partnership with Umno, I think Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz (Nik Mat) had repeatedly stated 'do not believe'," he said in referring to the Islamist party's influential spiritual leader.

He said Umno will continue to find opportunities to strengthen people's support towards itself in all kinds of ways.

He also pointed out PAS had previously worked with Umno before and the partnership did not last.

"Umno only wants PAS when it showed some weakness. In my opinion, it is better for PAS to stick with Pakatan. Let Umno be with MCA and MIC.

"Any views that said Umno and PAS can administer together, that is just temporary. When Umno and BN regain back Selangor, they will kick out PAS when they are back in power.

"We must know our strengths. Don't change our strategies just because we have won because in the end, we will fall into Umno's trap," he told some 100 people who attended the forum today.

- TMI