Johor PAS commissioner says ties with Bersatu still friendly despite split

JOHOR BAHRU, June 10 — Johor PAS will maintain friendly ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) at the state level despite having to officially sever ties, said Johor PAS Commissioner Datuk Mahfodz Mohamed.

He said the recent decision to split with Bersatu has not affected the relationship between leaders and members of the two parties in Johor.

“The Johor Bersatu leadership had in fact contacted me regarding the decision (on Monday night).

“I have personally spoken to Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, who is the Johor Bersatu chairman and also Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, regarding the decision to part ways,” he told reporters after chairing a state-level meeting at the Johor PAS office in Bandar Baru Uda here last night.

“Despite that, I assured him Johor PAS will continue our friendship with the state Bersatu,” he added

Mahfodz, who is Johor PN deputy chairman, was responding to the recent announcement that PAS had cut ties with Bersatu, effectively ending its six-year political cooperation.

For Johor, Mahfodz said he abides by the party’s decision, but had instructed PAS at the state level to continue its friendship with Bersatu without prejudice.

He said that the friendship forged by both parties over the years will continue despite having to end their political cooperation.

“However, the changes in the political landscape will not disrupt Johor PAS’s election machinery as we prepare for the upcoming Johor polls,” he said.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced on Monday night that the party had decided to sever ties with Bersatu.

He said PAS would form a new political pact focused on uniting the Muslim community for the upcoming state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, as well as the next general election.

However, PAS remains in PN despite cutting off its political cooperation with Bersatu, a fellow component party.

In 2020, both Bersatu and PAS founded PN for mutual political gain.

The coalition also includes Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).