Hadi: Only 'isolated voices' in PAS concerned about Umno cooperation

PAS MUKTAMAR | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has dismissed concerns raised by delegates over cooperation with Umno, describing these as the "isolated voices" of those new to the party.

At a press conference after delivering his winding-up address to end the 65th PAS muktamar in Kuantan, Hadi said these objectors were also too few in number compared to those in support of working with Umno ahead of the next general election.

"Those who have been with the party for a long time and are familiar with our matured and prosperous political culture are able to accept the decisions we make."

Hadi also said that his party has gone down to the ground in every state to hold dialogues with its members. 

A delegate from PAS Youth had, among others, urged the party to take the lead in its new cooperation with Umno. 

The delegate cited failed pacts in the past, where PAS leaders purportedly did not succeed in convincing its partners to accept its struggle to uphold Islam.

'Informal cooperation'

Hadi also clarified that PAS will remain in an informal cooperation with Umno,  until a technical committee led by deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man makes its decision.

"Until now we are still at the taawun (cooperation) stage because to enter into a tahaluf (coalition), there will mutually agreeable conditions to be fulfilled.

"Dialogues are ongoing, stage by stage," he said.

Quizzed on whether a timeline has been set for PAS to form a coalition with Umno, Hadi maintained that the process is ongoing, and that decisions will be made in due time based on the circumstances.

"We are siblings," he also quipped when asked whether PAS and Umno are now 'engaged' before formally tying the knot.

Yesterday, central delegates unanimously passed a motion to upgrade PAS' cooperation with Umno. 

As Hadi clarified today, this is an open mandate for party leaders to decide on what steps to take next.

'Trust the leaders'

Earlier, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad urged members to have confidence in the party's leadership, whom he pledged would never betray their trust.

On the issue of cooperation with Umno, Idris noted that while it could be difficult to set aside years of animosity and mistrust, members must be willing to make the sacrifice for the party.

"It is not easy for us to be together, for us to be able to accept Umno. Its not easy and I accept that.

"We must sacrifice our feelings... learn to sacrifice to accept all plans made and decisions reached by the party," he said.

The tahaluf siyasi pact – similar to PAS' past alliance with PKR and DAP in Pakatan Rakyat – will allow the party to impose certain guidelines on its new partners in Umno and BN. 

This is unlike the taawun siyasi arrangement adopted after last year's general election. - Mkini