KUALA LUMPUR: PAS will not give up, says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, adding that it is still not impossible to form a grand Malay-Muslim umbrella coalition.
Calling for a return to unity grounded in Islam, the party’s deputy president said that revisiting the PAS-Umno-Bersatu alliance pursued during the 15th General Election to forge a united Malay-Muslim political force would become increasingly challenging as long as divisions persist within the ummah (Muslim community).
“PAS believes that efforts to revive existing political cooperation will leave lasting effects and scars if they are not handled with wisdom.
“The experience of GE15 reflected a major aspiration to unite three main parties — PAS, Umno and Bersatu — to form a Malay-Muslim political force. However, that effort did not succeed as no consensus was reached among the parties involved,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 16).
He added that, in the current situation, questions are being raised about whether there is still room to form a “grand Malay-Muslim umbrella” capable of uniting all parties willing to come under it.
In theory, he said, it is not impossible, but in reality, it is becoming increasingly difficult as long as divisions continue to weaken the ummah.
He also said that internal turmoil and crises within an organisation are not unusual.
“The difference is that, for political parties, crises spread more easily because they are constantly under public scrutiny.
“Therefore, internal turmoil occurring in any political party today is neither unique nor isolated,” he said.
Regardless of the situation within any organisation, he said all conflicts should be addressed by returning to the principle of unity as decreed by Allah SWT.
“This verse (Surah Āli-ʿImrān, 3:103, of the Quran) should serve as a clear and decisive foundation for unity. The primary condition for achieving unity is to hold firmly to the religion of Allah. Unity based on faith (aqidah) is the foundation demanded in Islam.
“The ummah has long witnessed disputes that ultimately harm all parties. Partisan political crises seem endless,” he said.
“Recognising this reality, PAS will not give up in urging efforts towards ummah unity. Where there is effort, there is a way.
“Truth may be slow to triumph, but it will certainly arrive. Falsehood, no matter how firm it appears, will collapse when its time comes. That is Allah's promise, which must be believed,” he added.
On Sunday, Tuan Ibrahim said Perikatan Nasional (PN) would discuss Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's position as opposition leader following his sacking from Bersatu.
He said the discussion would involve all opposition members of parliament.
On Friday, Hamzah, the Larut MP, was sacked by Bersatu after being accused of attacking party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, while 16 other Bersatu leaders and MPs were expelled on the same day.
