We won’t work with ‘traders of Islam’, says PPBM in dismissing PAS

PPBM’s Rais Hussin says PAS has unfortunately turned into a “cult” and working with it will not benefit anyone.

PETALING JAYA: PPBM today said it is not interested in working with the Abdul Hadi Awang-led PAS, which it described as a “trader of Islam”.

The statement comes a day after PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang said his party wants to unite all Malay parties, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s PPBM, which is part of the ruling Pakatan Harapan.

PPBM chief strategist Rais Hussin said his party was committed to PH’s cause and believed in “less politicking and more delivering”.

“PAS is more into politicking. They use religion as a trade. They are merchant traders of Islam and they will do whatever they need to survive,” he told FMT.

After announcing his party’s alliance with Umno, Hadi had said: “We need to unite the Malay parties – PAS, Umno and PPBM. PKR is not a Malay party, Amanah is not a Malay party.”

Rais said PAS had unfortunately turned into a “cult” and working with it would not benefit anyone.

He added that the same PAS leaders, who announced an alliance with Umno today, had approached PPBM in 2015.

“PAS has never been consistent. The only thing consistent about them is being inconsistent with their principles.

“They just trade using Islam. They use Arabic terminologies and quote the Quran to hoodwink followers,” Rais said, stressing PPBM had no intentions of working with PAS. - FMT