KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 ― Pakatan Harapan has abandoned all plans to negotiate with PAS over seats in Selangor, with the pact’s leaders saying the Islamist party appeared uninterested in cooperation.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) supreme council member Datuk Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff claimed it was obvious that PAS and Umno have an affinity and challenged the two parties to formalise its cooperation.
“To us, PAS is past. PAS is already in a matrimonial union with Umno. The only thing they have not done is ‘nikah’.
“To some, they may say PAS and Umno are conducting ‘adultery’, some would say they are only ‘getting to know one another’. Regardless, as a coalition, we will not be entertaining PAS as their actions are clear,” he told Malay Mail.
Selangor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chairman Izham Hashim said PAS has made clear their intentions to not work with Pakatan Harapan.
PAS was previously in the Pakatan Rakyat pact with PKR and DAP, before DAP unilaterally declared the pact dead following clashes with the Islamist party.
DAP and PKR went on to form PH with Amanah, a PAS offshoot, but later invited PAS to join anyway.
Izham said PH should focus on the existing party and dismiss further notions of PAS joining them.
“They made no indication to be with us, so why should we have to wait for them?
“I am not sure what the stance is for PKR Selangor, but the other parties hold on to the orders from the top,” said Izham, referring to the Pakatan leadership’s decision not to cooperate with PAS in the next general election.
Selangor Pakatan Harapan election director Dr Xavier Jayakumar said PH should not only disregard PAS, but must also prepare for it to disrupt the contest against Barisan Nasional.
PAS said it will contest in its traditional seats, some of which are now held by Amanah, and challenge PH parties in their areas.
“We have come to a state where we have to disregard PAS as part of Pakatan. All statements made by their state leaders at all levels indicated that it will be a three-cornered fight with us,” he said.
