PERIKATAN Nasional will work together towards the next general election, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was reported as saying by The Straits Times.

Takiyuddin said PN is focused on a common platform as it seeks to distribute seats among its coalition partners.

“PAS is confident the parties that form PN are ready to drive the efforts and machinery to finalise preparations on the common front – including finalising seat allocations – to face the 15th general election that has yet to be scheduled.”

“We are also confident the cooperation and tolerance of all PN members now will strengthen the position of the government, whether at the federal or state level, until the end of the current term,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.

The Kota Baru MP also dismissed speculation that the coalition was becoming weaker, saying the Islamist party’s cooperation with other PN parties is, on the contrary, growing stronger.

The issue concerning seat allocation is particularly important as PN is largely made up of Malay-dominant parties – Umno, Bersatu, and PAS – that contested Malay-majority seats in the last general election.

There is talk that Umno and PAS will not cede any Malay seats to Bersatu in the coming polls.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself said the next polls could mark the end of Bersatu as the other two parties are not likely to give up the seats to the party.

PN was formed in the last week of February through defections from Bersatu and 10 PKR MPs from the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Other members of the coalition are Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah Star), as well as the remaining members of the Umno-led Barisan Nasional. – June 8, 2020.