PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has not ruled out the possibility of renewing ties with the parties in Pakatan Harapan in the future as “politics is the about possibilities”.

On the sidelines of the PAS annual congress in Kuala Terengganu today, the 70-year-old refused to rule it out when asked.

“Politics is about possibilities. Enemies can be friends, and friends can be enemies in the future.

“It is a normal feature of a democracy (for parties to cooperate again) so long as they agree to our agenda positively and this openness is maintained,” said Hadi.

PAS had been an ally of DAP and PKR under Pakatan Rakyat not too long ago, until the pact dissolved in 2015 over ideological differences and disagreement on their political cooperation. It was only with DAP and PKR’s support that PAS was able to improve its electoral performance in the 2013 general election.

In his policy speech today, Hadi said the party was open to working with any political parties, although it has forged an informal working relationship with traditional enemies Umno in three by-elections.

With Umno leaders such as Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and secretary-general Annuar Musa among this year’s invited guests, Hadi said PAS is open to working with anyone.

The policy speech which lasted almost 40 minutes did not mention cooperation with Barisan Nasional or Umno.

During a press conference, Hadi said that PAS has cooperated with other parties in the past, when it was in line with the party’s stance on Islamic principles and governance. 

He said PAS had supported the Internal Security Act after independence in 1957 to fight the communists. The party had also agreed to join the Alliance to form Barisan Nasional after the 1969 race riots. 

“The effects of being with BN is still felt today as we were able to influence many civil servants to join us then,” said Hadi. 

“The question of a merger with Barisan Nasional, however, does not arise. Just mutual cooperation under the right conditions. 

But Hadi said that PAS was still a long way off from any formal cooperation with Umno has the process of discussion within the party has not even begun.

“It’s just an assumption and as such the process hasn’t even begun,” said Hadi when asked if the syura council had given its blessings to work with Umno. – September 15, 2018.