PAS needs to set a clear position whether it wants to work with Umno under Muafakat Nasional (MN) or Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional (PN), said Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, the Islamist party’s former central working committee (CWC) member.
 
The former minister of plantation, industries and commodities, who is mulling a return to the Islamist party after quitting in March, said PAS cannot continue to try and please both Umno and Bersatu.

“This attitude has caused a big dilemma, not just for its leadership but the grassroots as well. PAS loves Umno, Muafakat Nasional, but they want to bring Bersatu together.”

“Bersatu is clashing with Umno. So, how does PAS want to play this game?

“The idea of being close to Umno and Bersatu is not a bad idea, it is actually good, but how are we going to manage it. So this is a big test for PAS.”

“I hope they are wise in organising, uniting all parties because the time has come for PAS to make a decision,” he told The Malaysian Insight in Kuala Terengganu.

The Kuala Nerus MP was commenting on a statement by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin who insisted that BN remains the enemy of the coalition in the next general election.

Muhyiddin said every PN party component should act in line with the ruling.

Muhyiddin’s statement came after PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan asserted the Islamist party remain a partner with Umno.

Takiyuddin stressed that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is PAS’ real enemy in the 15th general election (GE15).

Umno and PAS were previously reported to be trying to revive MN, which was formed three years ago, and has since been inactive.

Khairuddin then asked PAS to make a decision on its political direction after president Abdul Hadi Awang was reported to have met with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week.

Muhyiddin said his party would ask Hadi for an explanation about the meeting, which he said was aimed at reviving MN.

Khairuddin, who is known to prefer MN more than PN, said if PAS is forced to choose PN, the Islamist party should not sever its relationship with Umno.

He said PAS could negotiate with Umno and agree not to clash with the party in some seats in the next general election, especially if the clash could benefit Pakatan Harapan (PH).

He noted that at the PAS general assembly or muktamar in Kedah earlier this month, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said PAS and Umno must work together to ensure that the 27 parliamentary seats are not won by PH, should the two Malay parties clash in GE15.

Asked on Umno’s view that there should be no cooperation with PAS, Khairuddin said it was only expressed by certain leaders and did not represent the party’s official position.

He reminded that the final decision lies with the party, between Umno and PAS leaders. He added the leaders need to be brave to cement this collaboration.

“Let them give their opinion but ultimately the decision is up to the party.”

“So let the party decide. This outside view is an unofficial view. But if it is from the party then it is official.”

“Leaders have to have the courage to make decisions, if they are afraid to make decisions, it is a shame,” Khairuddin added.

On a possible return to PAS, Khairuddin said there would be nothing unusual if he returned to the Islamist party as that was normal in politics.

He said he left the party on his own accord and was not expelled.

He pointed out that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had “gone in and out of Umno” several times and that posed little problem for the Malay party.

“Of course I have to apply to rejoin. It’s natural. If the leadership rejects me, I suppose I will have to reapply again.”

“The party grassroots must understand I was not expelled. I left amicably,” said the former minister whose tenure in the Perikatan Nasional government was mired in controversy.

He had gone on a trip to Turkey during the Covid-19 pandemic and had not observed the mandatory quarantine on his return which triggered anger from the opposition.

He was dropped from the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government and earlier this year PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang rescinded his appointment to the party’s CWC on disciplinary grounds

Hadi, who is the Marang MP, did not state what party law Khairuddin had breached. – September 27, 2022.