PAS has no intention of joining Pakatan Harapan (PH) and will remain in the opposition bloc with Umno, said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

He also slammed PKR and Amanah leaders for making unnecessary noise with their statements rejecting supposed attempts by PAS to join the ruling pact.

“PAS has not even thought about applying to join Pakatan. We, in fact, want to strengthen our political partnership with Umno/Barisan Nasional through the Muafakat Nasional pact to face the next general election,” he said in a statement today.

He was responding to statements from Amanah vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that PH did not need PAS in its coalition.

Earlier this week, Salahuddin said it was unnecessary for PH to absorb PAS into its fold just to gain support from the people who backed the Islamist party.

Yesterday, Saifuddin said PH was strong and did not need the support of PAS.

The latest tit-for-tat episode started following the emergence of photos showing PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Shamsuri Mokhtar’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir said it was a usual meeting with no specific agenda. – January 22, 2020.