PAS pledges support if BN falls short of Johor majority

 PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang says BN can retain the menteri besar post, and that his party will not demand any state executive council positions.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that if BN falls short of a majority, even with the seats won by both parties combined, PAS is ‘prepared to help’.

BAKRI:

PAS is prepared to support Barisan Nasional (BN) in forming the Johor government if the coalition falls short of a simple majority in the state election this Saturday.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said BN could retain the menteri besar post and that PAS would not demand any state executive council positions.

“If Umno wins, Umno will appoint the menteri besar. It is entirely up to Umno to decide who it wants to appoint as exco members.

“If there is a shortfall (if Umno does not have enough seats), PAS can make up the numbers based on the seats we win, enabling the formation of a government with a simple majority.

“If a two-thirds majority is needed and PAS has enough seats, we can provide the numbers. If BN still falls short, even with PAS, PAS is prepared to help.

“What matters is preserving Malay-Muslim political power while ensuring that non-Muslims are not represented by extremists. If Umno already has enough seats, then there is no issue,” he told reporters after PAS’s grand finale ceramah for the Johor election in Simpang Jeram last night.

Responding to BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remark that PAS’s support for BN candidates was no guarantee of future cooperation, Hadi said the decision ultimately rested with the Umno president.

“What matters is sincerity. Even if there are signed guarantees or sworn pledges, they mean nothing without genuine trust between both sides.”

Hadi acknowledged that PAS was not strong enough in Johor on its own and was therefore willing to support Umno to safeguard Malay-Muslim political dominance, despite their long-standing rivalry.

The Marang MP said PAS was also prepared to work with MCA and MIC, describing both parties as non-extremist.

“Although PAS and Umno had serious conflicts in the past, we are prepared to put all that behind us for the sake of preserving Malay-Muslim political power.

“Do not fear Malays dominating Johor and Malaysia. Malays are the least fanatical and least extremist people in the world. That is why cooperation is so important.” - FMT