Focus on economic recovery, not GE15, says PAS sec-gen

PUTRAJAYA: An early general election should not be the priority at the moment, says Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

The PAS secretary-general said that the current government is stable and should be focusing on economic recovery instead.

“We have received support from different parties including the Opposition, we even have a memorandum of understanding on it,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday (June 14).

On the allegation that PAS is fearful of losing its posts in the government if a general election is held soon, the Kuala Nerus MP said that was not the reason.

“According to the Constitution, only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the right to recall and dissolve the Parliament (to make way for a general election).

“However, His Majesty should also receive advice from the Cabinet,” he said, adding that the current parliamentary term would end in July 2023.

Takiyuddin said the current situation among Umno and PAS was just a small matter, not a major issue that would affect the pact.

“There is no ‘clawing’ among Umno and PAS, it was just ‘poking’. What is the problem when Umno, PAS, Bersatu and GPS are all in the government now,” he said.

On Monday (June 13), Umno supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi said that PAS is against the early general election as it knows it would do badly in it.

He added that he was not surprised why the party was against the snap polls.

"There is nothing unusual with Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor accusing former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak of fearing prison time either.

“The idea is PAS just doesn’t want Umno to triumph. They are just buying time to find ways to slander the nationalist party even further, similar to the last general election,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (June 13).