Hadi: PAS not demanding leadership role in partnership with Umno

KUANTAN: PAS is not demanding to be the leader should a political partnership be formed with Umno, says party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic).

The common ground for cooperation was the concept of Islam leading the way, said Hadi after it was reported on Thursday (June 20) that PAS mursyidul am (spiritual leader) Hashim Jasin had stated that the Islamist party must be the leader of any political cooperation.

"It's not necessarily Umno or PAS that leads.

"It can even be a third party that becomes the head that is accepted by all. Politics is flexible. We must understand that.

"We are not demanding unless the people force us or need us to be at the front," said Abdul Hadi after launching the 65th annual PAS Muktamar at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium here on Friday (June 21).

Abdul Hadi admitted that there were some within the party who called for caution when working with Umno.

"Being cautious is normal. We have to be aware there is Umno-phobia in PAS, and in Umno there is also PAS-phobia.

"But we, as Muslims, have morals and must prioritise peace and the interest of the ummah rather than emotions. We must discard emotions to achieve unity and joint political interest," he said.

In his policy speech, Abdul Hadi slammed the Pakatan Harapan administration, calling it a weak and unreliable government while also dubbing it a "government of kakistocracy".

"We are also witnessing the disorder of the political and economic direction under Pakatan Harapan's administration which, to this day has failed to produce ideas and concepts of state in accordance with the true Islamic framework," he said.

Abdul Hadi said the government only knew how to blame others or rebrand the programmes of the previous government which they used to criticise.

"It is enough for the people to evaluate the lies of Pakatan against their manifesto promises, the deception of the level of education among the ministers, their silence on those who insult the sanctity of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the failure to manage the economy to create more jobs and reduce the cost of living borne by the people," he said.