ALOR STAR: Pas is looking to expand its presence in Pahang, Perak, and Selangor, says party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
He said the party’s next “major gains” will come from these states, which are currently led by the unity coalition.
In his opening address at the Pas Muktamar, Hadi said the focus would go hand-in-hand with efforts to maintain control of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, which he described as PAS and PN’s “base states”.
“These states must be defended with the implementation of an Islamic agenda that is guided by the Quran in matters under the state’s jurisdiction.
“At the same time, we need to move forward to strengthen our position in other states,” he said.
Presently, Pas has 17 state seats in Perak, 15 in Pahang and 10 in Selangor.
He said the coming state elections in Melaka, Johor, and Sabah would provide an opportunity for the party to expand its influence.
In his speech, Hadi also paid tribute to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who serves as adviser to the four Pas-controlled states, known as State Government 4 (SG4).
He said Dr Mahathir’s views on handling global economic crises added value to Pas’ efforts to implement a development agenda based on local expertise and resources, without relying on foreign intervention.
“This proves that the Islamic approach can be a way out of managing economic, political, and social crises, and can even be implemented based on existing local resources,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
