Serial coalition-quitter PAS is the problem, says Saifuddin
Published on: Thursday, May 18, 2023
By:
FMT, Anne Muhammad
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) said Abdul Hadi Awang must explain if PAS was ‘making friends with Islam’s enemy’ when it was allied with DAP between 1999 and 2015.
PETALING JAYA: A Pakatan Harapan (PH) leader has described PAS as “the problem” when joining coalitions or after forging alliances with others, citing the party’s past “history”.
PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said PAS had often befriended other parties to form various pacts or coalitions, but the Islamic party would be the one leaving these alliances.
ADVERTISEMENT “This means that PAS is the problem, not the other parties,” he told FMT.
“PAS can say that it doesn’t sacrifice its principles, but the reality is that every time they make friends (with other parties), they will eventually quit (the alliance).”
He also said PAS’ principles were ever changing, citing the time when the Islamic party was with DAP in the Barisan Alternatif and Pakatan Rakyat coalitions.
“When in Barisan Alternatif and Pakatan Rakyat, (PAS says) DAP is a party that has contributed much (to the nation). When PAS leaves, DAP becomes the enemy of Islam.
ADVERTISEMENT “If DAP is the enemy of Islam, can Hadi (Abdul Hadi Awang) explain why he befriended DAP in 1999 all the way to (2015)? Was Hadi making friends with the enemy of Islam during that period?” Saifuddin said.
Yesterday, Hadi said PAS was willing to work with others but would not hesitate to pull out if the cooperation went against its principles and strategies.
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The PAS president maintained that the party was not a political “halfway house” or a pushover, and would not be used by others for the sake of position, power or riches.
Barisan Alternatif was formed in 1999 comprising PAS, DAP and the then Parti Keadilan Nasional, which would later become PKR. The coalition disbanded in 2001 after DAP announced its withdrawal.
PAS, DAP and PKR then became allies again under Pakatan Rakyat and contested together in the 2013 general election before the coalition broke up in 2015.
Meanwhile, Umno and PAS formed Muafakat Nasional in 2019, in the aftermath of the 14th general election. However, this pact did not last after Umno accused PAS of betraying the agreement by deciding to work with Bersatu instead.
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