CONTRARY to the concerns of several opposition leaders, a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and PAS in the next general election will mean a higher chance of victory for the opposition alliance, said panellists at a recent election forum.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said studies conducted nationwide indicated that a three-cornered fight would benefit PH in most seats as the Malay vote would be split between PAS and BN.

“When there is a thee-cornered fight, the Malay vote will also be split into three between Umno, PAS and PH, whereas the non-Malay vote, especially the Chinese, is almost solidly with PH,” Khalid told the “PAS, a risky partner” forum in Kuala Terengganu.

“Now with the formation of Bersatu, a portion of the Umno Malay vote will also be carried over to PH, so votes for PH will increase, and so, too, the chances of a win in a three-cornered fight.”

He said PH had assigned its election director, Mohamed Azmin Ali, to prepare a working paper on PKR’s continued efforts to work with PAS.

Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president and Selangor menteri besar, was asked to explain the reasons and rationale for working with the Islamist party, which has repeatedly rejected PH and PKR’s overtures.

Khalid said Azmin had been asked to present the paper at the coming PH presidential council meeting.

Recently, Selangor PAS commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi announced that the party would stand in 42 state seats in Selangor, including Kajang, which is PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s seat, and Azmin’s Bukit Antarabangsa seat.

In the last general election, PAS competed in 23 seats, winning 15.

Khalid said when Iskandar Samad was the Selangor PAS commissioner, all 13 state representatives had submitted a letter to party president Abdul Hadi Awang, requesting permission to engage in discussions with PKR at the state level.

“However, the request was rejected by PAS. In fact, all the PAS units have been playing these state representatives, to the point where Iskandar claimed that they are all just waiting blindly, unsure of what their relevance is in remaining in the Selangor government,” Khalid told the forum.

Another forum panellist, Terengganu Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda, said history had shown PAS to be an untrustworthy partner.

In the 1960s in Terengganu, PAS had betrayed Parti Negara when they were in a pact to fight the ruling BN.

“This resulted in three state assemblymen from Parti Negara, which was led by Onn Jaafar, to join BN, along with five of PAS’ own representatives, leading to the state falling to the (BN) government,” said Hasbie.

“This shows that in crucial moments, PAS does not appreciate its partners.”

He said likewise, in the current political situation, any party wanting to work with PAS should exercise caution.

“PAS had many leaders who were keen on power-sharing, but the party leadership now is focused on one individual,” he said, in reference to Hadi.

PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was also in Kuala Terengganu yesterday, made a plea to PAS not to take on the role of “spoilers” in the coming polls.

PH plans to contest in Kelantan and Terengganu, where PAS has a long and deep history. The Islamist party currently rules Kelantan and holds 14 of 32 Terengganu state seats.

“I am saddened about PAS. They can never be a government. They are being spoilers. They are going to split the Malay vote between Umno, PH and themselves, and allow BN to win,” Dr Mahathir told a crowd of about 1,000 in Besut on his first visit to the state as PH chairman. – August 26, 2017.