KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — The Former Elected Representatives Council (Mubarak) today dismissed the new opposition pact comprising PAS and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan), saying the latter will burden rather than benefit the Islamist party.
Mubarak president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman pointed out that Ikatan has no lawmakers or political influence that would be of help to the Islamist party.
“I do not understand why PAS decides to bring Ikatan along for this pact. Ikatan does not have any representatives and Tan Sri Kadir does not shine politically,” he told reporters here.
“I do not see any benefits, just burden. So in terms of political collaboration, I do not see any impact at all.”
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his Ikatan counterpart Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir announced their new alliance in a news conference at the Islamist party’s headquarters earlier today.
PAS was previously formed a partnership with PKR and DAP as Pakatan Rakyat after the landmark Election 2008. Their pact crumbled last year following disagreements between the conservative Islamist party and the DAP.
PKR and DAP went on to form Pakatan Harapan with PAS offshoot, Amanah. PAS was invited to join, but declined to do and maintained that PR was functional with just it and PKR the remaining members.
