Hadi urges PAS to defend seats won in previous polls

 PAS president also wants the party to expand its influence in Pahang, Perak and Selangor.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party should engage with swing voters via a targeted approach.

KOTA BAHRU:

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today urged the party to defend the state and parliamentary seats it won in previous elections.

He also said that the Perikatan Nasional (PN)-led states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis – collectively known as SG4 – should be retained.

PAS won 43 parliamentary seats in the 15th general election. It also won the lion’s share of state seats in Kelantan (37), Terengganu (27) and Kedah (21) in the 2023 state polls.

In Perlis, PAS has nine seats.

“These states must retain control, improve their governance and implement the Islamic agenda.

“Achievements must be communicated to the people and voters to counter attacks (by rivals),” Hadi said in his keynote speech at the PAS muktamar here.

He also urged the party to set its sights on Pahang, Perak and Selangor and “strengthen PAS and PN’s parliamentary representation” in those states as well as improve its performance in Melaka, which is expected to hold a state election soon.

PAS currently has one seat in Melaka: Rembia. This seat was won by Umno in the 2021 state election before its incumbent joined PAS.

The Islamic party previously announced its intention to contest 16 of Melaka’s 28 state seats, including Tanjung Bidara which is held by Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Hadi also urged PAS to engage with swing voters via a targeted approach.

“The entire PAS machinery must work to penetrate areas with non-Muslim majorities and secure decisive votes in Muslim-majority areas by demonstrating its ability to champion the people’s interests and uphold good governance,” he said. - FMT