PAS sec-gen: Federal govt now more open to cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is more open to having PAS in the fold now, says PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (pic).

"We have always wanted to attend federal programmes, but it was never allowed and we were never invited.

"But now, they are more open to having PAS. Maybe that is the new approach," he said when asked on PAS attending events organised by the Federal government.

On Friday, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang attended an event by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry in his parliamentary constituency Marang.

Takiyuddin said PAS' approach towards the Barisan Nasional government was "based on the situation".

"We have engagement with many quarters including the government but we have never had a relationship with Umno.

"We encourage good cooperation with the government and we will be the advisor and critic on whatever that is wrong on their part. That is how mature politics work," he added.

Asked whether PAS would be open to joining Barisan to avoid three-cornered fights with Pakatan Harapan in the general election, the Kota Baru MP said he was not interested in answering questions based on "if's."

"Let's wait and see. It cannot be based on assumptions. There must be a firm offer that we can either accept or object to," he said.