PAS: Dr M wrong - We won’t join Barisan

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang denied claims by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that PAS will join Barisan Nasional.

“It’s not true, not true,” said the PAS president, refuting the former prime minister's claims.

Dr Mahathir alleged that PAS’ reluctance to join Pakatan Harapan meant that the party supported Barisan.

He said this at the Pakatan Harapan convention on Saturday.

However, Hadi admitted that PAS supported certain Umno ideologies.

“Yes, there are some things we support. We can’t support them as a whole,” he added.

The Marang MP, however, did not respond when asked if PAS would join Pakatan Harapan.

At the convention, Dr Mahathir said it was crucial to include PAS in the Opposition pact as the Islamist party could “sabotage” Pakatan’s victory at the next general election.

PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali also told journalists at the same event that negotiations with PAS should continue.

Meanwhile, Nik Abduh Nik Aziz called on Dr Mahathir to focus on praying. He should “turn to God” instead of returning to politics, said the PAS Youth chief.

Nik Abduh told reporters yesterday that Dr Mahathir was now fighting against the things he did when he was the prime minister.

“He is the one who suppressed the rights of the Kelantan royalty and now, he is fighting for the royalty,” Nik Abduh said, adding that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was jailed under Dr Mahathir’s watch and now the same man wants to free him.

Nik Abduh said PAS was unsure of Parti Pribumi Bersatu’s seriousness in working with the Islamist party.

“One time, I see them being serious about joining PAS, and then at another time it is like they are not. PAS is always wary about every­thing,” he added.

Nik Abduh said that PAS would never join Pakatan, adding that the party was confident of winning seats on its own.

“We never said that (PAS will lose). Dr Mahathir said that.

“We are confident we will get the votes. We are always confident and we are open to working together.”