KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has denied that his party is in talks with PAS to form an alliance government after the 15th general election this Saturday as alleged by Pakatan Harapan (PH) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
But the caretaker prime minister also said that PAS as the older political party should review its Perikatan Nasional (PN) tie after being censured by the coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is from the younger Bersatu, over its party stance.
“PAS is a big party and it was formed earlier than Bersatu, so PAS should be dominant and have its own power because as a coalition component they should have a say within PN.
“But, when PAS wants to make their own stance, it will always get criticised by the president.
“So if that is the way things goes, it is better for PAS to collaborate with different parties,” he told reporters after attending the Jelajah Santai Anak-Anak Keramat programme at the Sri Perlis 2 public flats last night.
Ismail Sabri said he had been made aware of PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan's remark that Barisan Nasion (BN) is the Islamist party’s “first reference” to form a unity government if PN were unable to secure a simple majority in Parliament through the polls.
The Umno politician also noted Bersatu president Muhyiddin came out with a statement saying Takiyuddin was not authoritised to speak about any post-GE15 alliance governments on PN’s behalf.
Both Bersatu and PAS are components of PN, along with three other parties: Gerakan, Sabah Progressive Party, and Parti Solidariti Tanahairku, while Umno anchors the BN coalition.
Ismail Sabri also asserted that any proposal to collaborate with other parties or coalitions post-election needs the consent of Umno's supreme council.
During his walkabout here last night, Ismail Sabri hinted that BN’s Titiwangsa candidate Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani could make a return to the Cabinet if they win the general election.
Ismail, who is seeking a return to office as prime minister by defending his Bera parliamentary seat in Pahang, said his administration would be incomplete without the presence of an economic expert like Johari.
“We need people like Johari. It is a loss to the Cabinet without him. Therefore, the people must make sure Johari wins the election if they want him to be appointed," Ismail Sabri said to loud cheers from the crowd.
Johari was the second finance minister in the administration of Datuk Seri Najib Razak leading into the 14th general election in 2018.
Johari, who accompanied Ismail Sabri in Titiwangsa last night, described the caretaker PM’s presence as a booster for his campaign.
