PAS spiritual leaders have rejected the notion of forming an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan in Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan, accusing the coalition of merely wanting to ride on conservative Malay support for the Islamist party.

“The country needs to be saved by Islam from its economic, political and social destruction,” said PAS central dewan ulama treasurer Dr Khairudin Aman Razali in a statement.

“PH is not the way to solving this country’s problems through Islam.”

The central committee member said all discussions on a pact aimed at taking down the ruling Barisan Nasional government were, in reality, a guise to save the seats of certain opposition parties through the influence of the PAS electoral machinery.

“When they succeed in winning their seats again, the Islamic agenda will be kicked away and fought against.

“PAS will be attacked again with all sorts of accusations.”

Yesterday, The Malaysian Insight reported that PAS leaders in Selangor, Kelantan and Kedah were petitioning the party’s central leadership for freedom to work with PH in the next general election, as they feared PAS would lose badly in the three states if it went up against BN and PH in the polls.

PAS is scheduled to launch its Gagasan Sejahtera Rakyat coalition next month, which is expected to comprise Parti Cinta Malaysia, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia.

In PH-ruled Selangor, the Islamist party has three officials in the 14-member state executive committee despite having severed ties with PH parties in May.

In Kedah, there are strong ties between the grassroots members and leaders of PAS and PH, and former menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir has said his party, Bersatu, will remain open to working with PAS.

In PAS-ruled Kelantan, a recent internal survey revealed that members would likely quit if the party showed any inclination of working with BN lynchpin Umno. – August 15, 2017.