PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional leaders will meet to decide the coalition’s future direction, which is now hanging in the balance after PAS sever its political cooperation with Bersatu.
Perikatan information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pic) said the coalition’s direction will be discussed with all component parties – Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People Party (MIPP) – in the coming days, though no specific date has been set.
He said PAS’ decision was solely related to its bilateral ties with Bersatu and did not involve Perikatan as a coalition.
He also added that PAS remained committed to multiracial political cooperation.
Meanwhile, MIPP president P. Punithan said his party will be meeting PAS today to discuss on the current situation within Perikatan.
“We will be talking to PAS to see what the outcome is. We are also waiting to meet Bersatu but we have not been informed when this will take place,” he said when contacted.
He revealed that he met with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week, where the Barisan Nasional chairman extended an invitation to MIPP to join the coalition.
“We have not made any decision (to join Barisan) because we are still in Perikatan. I am not in a rush to make any decision,” he said, adding that the central committee will meet on Sunday to decide on the party’s next steps.
Punithan said PAS leaders have told him they want to remain in Perikatan.
“It is just Bersatu and PAS having issues. In Perikatan, we need to conclude what is our cooperation and whether there is any electoral pact ... all of which will be discussed in the coming days,” he said.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party’s decision did not signal the end of relationships between PAS and Bersatu.
“This was done to give both parties the freedom to determine their own direction without being bound to each other,” he said.
He stressed that goodwill between party members should remain intact despite the political split.
“This decision does not mean PAS prioritises enmity. Ending this political cooperation gives each party the freedom to chart their own course.
“I hope we will remain united for the good of the community,” he added.
Amid the uncertainty, Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau called for political maturity and a renewed focus on issues that matter most to Malaysians.
He said mature political parties should not add to the country’s problems during a crisis, but instead propose solutions.
