PAS ready to part ways with Umno, says info chief

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS is ready to cut all ties with Umno as its patience is running out after what it views as betrayals by certain factions within its Muafakat Nasional partner, says a party leader.

PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin (pic) said on Tuesday (Feb 2), that things had come to a head and it appeared that the parties must part ways because the rift has created disunity among Muslims.

He said the spate of state elections triggered by certain factions within Umno was evidence of these "betrayals", including causing the collapse of the previous Perikatan Nasional government.

"We are taking everything into consideration before making a decision... our patience is running thin with these self-serving factions with vested interests," he said, speaking as a guest of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan on the "Bersama Wan Saiful" YouTube show.

The Muafakat Nasional partners have been at loggerheads lately with PAS teaming with Bersatu for the Johor state election, after cooperating with the party in the Melaka state polls last year.

"There is a faction such as the one in the government led by the Prime Minister which wants unity and PAS has a lot of respect for them, but not the faction facing court cases," Khairil Nizam said.

Khairil Nizam, who is a senator, said other parties within Perikatan were forced to cooperate with Umno to ensure stability.

"If there is strong support to cut ties with Umno an emergency assembly (muktamar) will be called and the resolution taken there will be tabled at the PAS Syura Council, which is the ultimate decision-making body," he added.