KLANG: Selangor PAS has refuted Bersatu supreme council member Dr Afif Bahardin’s contention that the Islamist party’s position in Perikatan Nasional will become awkward if it no longer trusts his party (Bersatu).
Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar, in addition to refuting the statement, added Dr Afif’s presumption was the opposite of the current reality.
Sukri said a better question would be not about PAS being in Perikatan, but rather Bersatu’s position in the coalition.
“A more accurate question would be why Bersatu still wants to remain in Perikatan if they persistently dispute decisions, leadership and the direction of the coalition which was collectively agreed upon," he said.
He stressed that PAS was a founding member of Perikatan and the coalition also included Gerakan and MIPP, and hence its future cannot be determined by the interest and needs or the internal crisis of a single party.
“No single party has exclusive rights over Perikatan," added Sukri.
Sukri also said that PAS was currently the largest party in Perikatan in terms of membership, machinery and seats, and holds the coalition's chairmanship.
“Thus, it is not fair to picture PAS as a party that needs to be queried about its position in a coalition that it had also founded," he said.
He also warned that Bersatu’s “prolonged internal problems”, including divisions and leadership migration, risk undermining the opposition’s credibility and should not become a burden to PAS and other coalition members.
“If there are parties in Bersatu who no longer respect joint decisions or put personal interests above PN’s interests, they should reassess their position,” Sukri added.
He also said Perikatan must operate on principles of integrity and consensus, and the coalition belonged to all component parties.
"Those who are unable to work within that framework should relook at their membership (in Perikatan)."
