KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The so-called “scenario analysis” by a PAS intellectual on a possible PAS-Umno pact reeks of a racial agenda that is no different from what is being championed by Malay rights group Perkasa, a DAP leader said today.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke Siew Fook said it was irresponsible for PAS Research Centre Operations Director Dr Mohd Zuhri Marzuki to have allegedly “suggested” that PAS and arch-rivals Umno work together to take control of Selangor and shut out any dissent by minority groups when it comes to religious issues.

The DAP man said it was unimaginable for Zuhdi to have come up with a scenario where PAS could “menjentik” or flick away “DAP, the church and non-Muslims” when it comes to differences of opinion, nor could he fathom a proposal to work with Umno to restore Malay-Muslim political power through redelineation and snap polls.

“What happened to the openness and tolerance in the slogan ‘PAS for All’?... isn’t the proposal akin to scheming with the EC (Election Commission) and no different from Perkasa’s agenda?” Loke said in a statement.

Perkasa is a Malay rights group that emerged in the aftermath of the watershed 12th general election. The group has routinely split public opinion over its intense lobbying for the preservation of the decades-old affirmative action policy and the rights of the Malay-Muslim majority.

Yesterday, a screenshot of a Whatsapp chat between PAS central committee members went viral on social media, highlighting a “scenario analysis” by Zuhdi where the party leaves PR and joins forces with Umno to take a simple majority in the state legislative assembly, while retaining Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as mentri besar.

Through this alliance, PAS could then simply “jentik” or flick away any dissent from DAP, churches and non-Muslims over any raids or the use of the Arabic word Allah, Zuhdi allegedly said in his message.

Zuhdi has since clarified that the message highlighted in the screenshot was merely one of several scenarios he was asked to outline by his peers in an evaluation of the ongoing standoff over the plan to remove Khalid from his post.

This is not the first time talk of a PAS-Umno alliance has surfaced, with talks between the two arch-rivals having come and gone over the past few decades to no agreement.

Loke noted today that Zuhdi did not deny the contents of the message that was highlighted in the screenshot, making it appear as though PAS are entertaining the possibility of working with the enemy and turning its back on the trust given to PR in last year’s national polls.

The Seremban MP acknowledged that PAS has the right to decide whether or not it will remain with PR, but said any move to work with Umno is an act of betrayal not just to PKR and DAP but also to Selangor’s voters who gave PR a greater mandate to rule.

“Any leader who thinks that way and makes such suggestions need to be criticised harshly. I would like to remind Dr Zuhdi that the seats won by PAS in Selangor were under the umbrella of Pakatan Rakyat because all three parties, PAS, PKR and DAP, contested GE13 on the same Pakatan Rakyat manifesto.

“Dr Zuhdi’s proposal and thoughts have sullied PAS’ positive image as a political party that champions justice and holds firmly to principles. I am confident the majority of PAS’ central leadership do not agree with Dr Zuhdi’s suggestion and views,” Loke said.

The DAP leader urged PAS’ central leadership to take a clear stand in distancing itself from Zuhdi’s proposal and take the appropriate action to restore confidence among voters and PR supporters nationwide towards the party.

The controversy surrounding Zuhdi’s alleged suggestion emerged yesterday amid a tense standoff between PAS and its two PR partners over a plan to replace Khalid with PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as mentri besar.

PKR’s decision to oust the Port Klang assemblyman is ostensibly due to Khalid’s controversial handling of state matters, notably the seizure of Malay-language bibles and his perceived support for several proposed highways criss-crossing the state.

Some Selangor DAP leaders have backed PKR but the move is facing resistance from top PAS leaders, including president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and its party’s spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat who both have publicly voiced their support for Khalid to remain as mentri besar.

Earlier today, PAS Secretary-General Datuk Mustafa Ali issued a gag order on PAS members from making any public statements on the issue.

The PR presidential council is expected to meet again on August 10 to come to a final decision on the mentri besar controversy.