Untrue PAS stayed mum on PN's Harapan pact proposal - Fadhli

 

PAS MUKTAMAR | PAS Youth leaders today downplayed criticisms from a delegate who questioned the party’s perceived reluctance to criticise its Perikatan Nasional partner Bersatu, unlike its more vocal stance taken towards Umno.

PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari cited his speech at the recent Perikatan Nasional convention, where he had spoken out against Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s reported call for opposition parties to consider negotiations to enter a pact against BN in GE15.

“To who else could we have directed that emphasis?

“To those who said they want to initiate discussions with Pakatan Harapan,” said Fadhli in his winding-up speech at the 63rd PAS Youth muktamar in Alor Setar, Kedah, today.

PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari

Without mentioning names, Fadhli also alluded to reported remarks by a Kelantan Umno delegate during the party’s general assembly in March that it would not pursue cooperation with PAS so long as the “tiga jahanam” (three scoundrels) continue to lead.

“We’re the youths, and so when someone say ‘we will not discuss with PAS because of the three scoundrels, so long as they are still around’ and one of three scoundrels named was the PAS president (Abdul Hadi Awang) himself, don’t tell me we’re going to sit quietly?” he said.

“When there’s someone attacking the Kelantan government, Terengganu government, do we just do nothing?” said the Pasir Mas MP.

Accepting differences

Earlier, PAS Youth deputy chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden in his winding-up speech also addressed the criticisms raised by a Johor delegate, saying that PAS should be leading any alliance in order to push for change.

“It is true our friends in Muafakat Nasional (MN) have various antics. What can we do? We have to accept.

“We can’t expect everyone to act the same way and we can’t expect them to be like us,” he said.

Whether with Bersatu or Umno, Afnan said PAS has played its role in constantly issuing advice.

“We can’t force them to be like us. What we can do is to lead, show example and advise them,” he said.

MN is a pact between Umno and PAS, signed after the former and BN’s defeat in the 14th general election. Following a string of by-election successes, ties between the two parties have since soured, especially after PAS joined PN.

Meanwhile, Fadhli at a press conference later said any advice by PAS for Bersatu can be communicated during scheduled PN meetings, with the next upcoming date on Sept 7.

He also expressed confidence that PN components including Bersatu have accepted PAS’ stand to reject any cooperation with Harapan in GE15.

“That stand taken by PAS Youth has been passed as a resolution today without debate,” he said.

On Wednesday, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the Harapan presidential council has decided for the coalition to reject any possibility of working with PN, in response to Muhyiddin's reported advances. - Mkini