TEMERLOH: PAS will retain the bai'ah, its oath of loyalty, even after amending its constitution to include anti-party hopping regulations.
Its deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the oath would strengthen the new regulations by controlling the party's members from a spiritual aspect.
"The regulations are physical. The bai'ah will instil a sense of fear.
"It is spiritual (and) ties our candidates to their responsibility to the people who vote for them," he said after the closing of the 70th PAS muktamar in Kerdau here on Sunday (Sept 15).
The bai'ah is most commonly recited by PAS members to discourage them from betraying the party.
Consequences for breaking the oath can be severe as it had been reported that a former PAS official had to divorce his wife because of it.
PAS passed an amendment to its constitution to include anti-party hopping regulations, which will result in the cessation of membership for any elected representative who switches allegiance to another party or coalition that does not include PAS as a member.
On another matter, Tuan Ibrahim said the party was not keen to discuss re-establishing inter-party cooperation with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as had not been acquitted of his corruption charges.
Tuan Ibrahim said Ahmad Zahid's case was different from that of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which was still ongoing in court.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had said earlier on Sunday he was not interested in engaging in negotiations that bypass Ahmad Zahid or create discord among Umno members.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had said at the muktamar on Saturday (Sept 14) that he was still open to cooperating with Umno as the party had done through Muafakat Nasional (MN).
He noted that MN, which marks its fifth anniversary this year, was formed without the involvement of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was on leave at the time.
