KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 ― Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, son of the late PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) was stronger than PAS-led alliance Gagasan Sejahtera.

Nik Omar, who is a PAS lifetime member, said alliances were necessary in politics to win elections.

“Now, to form the government, we need to make alliances. I see that Pakatan Harapan is stronger because they comprise four parties with their own strengths,” Nik Omar told local daily Sinar Harian in an interview.

“PPBM, even though it’s new, has prominent leaders like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR has Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP controls non-Muslim voters, and Amanah, even though it’s new, its leadership comprises activists. So they have a strong alliance.”

Gagasan Sejahtera comprises PAS, Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia and Berjasa. It has also formed an electoral pact with Parti Cinta Malaysia.

Nik Omar was rumoured to join Parti Amanah Negara, a PAS splinter party, and contest the 14th general election. But he has said he will abide by his mother’s wishes and avoid politics to prevent clashes with his younger brother from PAS, Nik Mohamad Abduh, who is the incumbent Pasir Mas MP.

Nik Omar pointed out DAP has long opposed hudud law even since his father’s time.

“It’s just that Tok Guru could handle it well and at the same time, we also need to respect Tok Guru Haji Hadi’s views,” he said, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The eldest son and second child of Nik Abdul Aziz noted that his father still made visits and held discussions even though DAP did not agree with PAS on enacting the Islamic penal code.

“Why? Because Tok Guru wanted the foundation of the political alliance to go far, including to win government,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat comprising PKR, DAP and PAS ― which ran against Barisan Nasional (BN) in straight fights in the 2008 and 2013 elections and denied the coalition a two-thirds parliamentary majority ― broke up in 2015 over disagreements between PAS and DAP.

Pakatan Rakyat was succeeded by PH, comprising PKR, DAP, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and Amanah. PH is set to run against BN in multi-cornered fights with PAS in the upcoming election.