Stay out of Harapan matters, be constructive opposition, Hadi told

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his party should play the role of a constructive opposition instead of getting involved in the transition of power between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim, said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution.

Saifuddin said the PAS president should accept that his party was not part of the government although it had the chance of playing kingmaker in the last general election. 

PAS, however, chose to contest in three-cornered fights against Pakatan Harapan and BN, he added. 

"The most praiseworthy attitude is to accept that Harapan is the government and PAS is part of the Opposition," Saifuddin told Malaysiakini today.

"Harapan will continue to function as a coalition and PAS should try as soon as possible to be a constructive opposition." 

He added that Harapan has a clear purpose — to reject narrow racial politics, to defend the people and to respect constitutional principles.

"For GE14, Harapan was a combination of four parties, namely PKR, DAP, Amanah and Bersatu, which agreed that Mahathir would be prime minister, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would be his deputy, and Anwar would be the eighth prime minister."

"Thus, the Harapan 'bus driver' is already specified," said Saifuddin.

He was responding to Hadi's comments earlier today that the transition of power between Mahathir and Anwar is not as simple as changing bus drivers.

Hadi said as Muslims, the transition must also fulfil conditions set for the agreement.

"You can't just promise to hand over power... if it doesn't fulfil the conditions, doesn't meet the terms of agreements, then it is not valid. So we have to see whether the conditions have been met," said the PAS stalwart. - Mkini