PAS appears to be in no hurry to name anyone as its prime minister candidate for the next general election (GE16), despite its Perikatan Nasional (PN) ally Bersatu already nominating its party president, Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Islamic party’s vice-president, Idris Ahmad, said PAS‘s priority is ensuring that PN is capable of winning the next nationwide polls to form the federal government.
“PAS is not engrossed with the prime minister’s post. In the party, we have never discussed wanting to put forward a prime minister candidate.
“Our focus is on strengthening the party, ensuring that we can win elections and that we have the numbers to form the government,” he said, according to Sinar Harian.
The issue of PN’s poster boy for GE16 has been a bone of contention among the leaders of its component parties.
In November, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin denied that Muhyiddin was confirmed as PN’s official prime minister candidate, saying that PAS could lead the coalition.
Several Bersatu and Gerakan leaders however stated their support for Muhyiddin.
Bersatu’s annual general assembly last weekend unanimously resolved to nominate Muhyiddin as its prime minister candidate for GE16.
In response, PAS and PN election director Sanusi Nor warned Bersatu against being hasty and overly enthusiastic regarding key political decisions for PN.
PAS can work with PKR, Amanah, just not DAP
Separately, Idris said PAS has no qualms about working with other parties like Umno or even PKR and Amanah.
However, he said working with DAP was not possible, and that PKR and Amanah must ditch their long-time ally if they were to work with the Islamic party.
“Perhaps Umno is uncomfortable with Bersatu because its former leaders are now with the latter. They have hit out at us, claiming that we don’t like Amanah, but no, we have no problem.
“We have no issues with PKR even, on condition that they must leave DAP. The same goes for Amanah, they must leave DAP… what’s crucial is this question: what do we want to struggle for?”
In 2023, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party was willing to work with others but would not hesitate to pull out if the cooperation went against its principles and strategies.
PAS, DAP and PKR’s forerunner, Parti Keadilan Nasional, formed Barisan Alternatif in 1999. The coalition disbanded in 2001 after DAP announced its withdrawal.
PAS, DAP and PKR became allies again under Pakatan Rakyat and contested the 2013 general election together before breaking up in 2015.
