IT is premature for PAS to think it can be the kingmaker in the next general election as the Islamist party will most likely be the “puppet” or “suicide bomber” in three-cornered fights, said Husam Musa.

“At best, PAS will get only three to five parliamentary seats. How to be the kingmaker?” said the Amanah vice-president at the party’s Perak convention today.

“In three-cornered fights, PAS will only act as a ‘suicide bomber’,” he said, adding that PAS’ role would only be that of a spoiler.

He said in the three-cornered fights in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections, the Islamist party garnered fewer votes than Amanah.

In the by-elections, Amanah was still in its infancy, but had the support of non-Malays.

Husam said PAS candidates at some polling stations did not get even a single non-Malay vote, as non-Malays felt that the trust they had given the party in the previous two general elections had been betrayed.

“Hence, PAS can only play a supporting role, to spoil the opposition’s chances in the general election.”

He said there were rumours of PAS and other parties fielding candidates in several seats to cause three-cornered fights, which would hand an advantage to Umno-Barisan Nasional to win.

He said what was important now was to educate the people that there were just two choices: BN and Pakatan Harapan.

“BN is the current government and PH has the potential to defeat BN, compared with PAS.

“If the people want change, they have to choose the side that has a chance, which is PH. They must forget PAS for now.”

Nonetheless, Husam, who is former PAS vice-president, said he still hoped that his former party would return to its original struggles.

“It is still not too late for PAS to join the opposition in PH. But, not through the back door. Through the front door.” – August 20, 2017.