GAGASAN Sejahtera will launch its election manifesto on March 18 in Cyberjaya, said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He said the launch will be preceded by a ceramah where PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang would speak.

“The manifesto is called ‘Malaysia Sejahtera’ and it will have nine thrusts,” said  Tuan Ibrahim in a press conference at party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, today.

Gagasan, which is attempting to position itself as the alternative opposition pact Pakatan Harapan (PH), is spearheaded by PAS, which has broken ties with DAP and PKR in the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat. PAS has refused to join its old allies in PH which was formed after the previous pact crumbled.

PH launched its manifesto “Buku Harapan” last Thursday in Shah Alam, promising, among others, to end the goods and services tax, limit the prime minister to two terms in office, and reform key institutions like the Election Commission, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, snd Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

Ruling government Barisan Nasional has yet to reveal its manifesto for the 14th general election, which must be held by August but is speculated to be held before May.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Takiuddin Hassan said Gagasan had accepted Berjasa as a component member, the other one being Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia. 

Gagasan said it had the support of some 200 non-governmental organisations.

On the status of Parti Cinta Malaysia, which has featured at some PAS ceramah of late, Takiyuddin said it was a “friendly” party but it had no yett been accepted as a partner.

Asked if there were plans to register Gagasan as a political party like Barisan Nasional and PH, Takiyuddin said: “Not yet”.

“Gagasan is an electoral pact. There are no plans to register it yet,” said the Kota Baru MP.

He said Gagasan had not yet decided whether to contest the elections under the PAS logo or the individual party symbols.

On the distribution of seats, Tuan Ibrahim said the coalition had also not decided how many seats each party would contest or which they would contest.

“But we don’t foresee any problems as this is a simpler coalition compared with Pakatan Rakyat. We can sort it out in a week,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

Takiyuddin said what was certain was that Gagasan aimed to field candidates in “around 130 federal seats”.

In view of the general election, Takiyudin said the PAS muktamar scheduled on May 4-6 had been postponed to after the polls.

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad, Youth chief Khalil Abdul Hadi and research director Dr Zuhdi Marzuki were also present. – March 12, 2018.