PETALING JAYA: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has called on Johor voters to reject Pakatan Harapan, including in constituencies where the contest is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan.
He said this was among several resolutions agreed upon by the party during a special central committee meeting on the Johor election yesterday.
In a statement, he said the other resolutions were for PAS to defend what it described as the “Malay-Muslim political power” in Johor, to mobilise its machinery in the 11 seats it is contesting and to reach as many voters as possible under the slogan “Jom Jaga Johor” (Let’s protect Johor).
Abdul Hadi also said PAS has begun to carry out early preparations for the Negri Sembilan state elections.
PAS central committee member Datuk Awang Hashim said the resolutions were meant to clarify the party president’s earlier remarks on the Johor polls.
“There is no confusion regarding our president’s earlier statement. The latest statement makes our position very clear,” he told reporters after the special meeting.
Asked whether the meeting had discussed the position of Bersatu in Perikatan, Awang said it did not.
Earlier this month, PAS announced it had ended its political cooperation with Bersatu, although both parties remain component members of Perikatan.
Despite the split, Perikatan last week finalised its seat allocation for the Johor election, with Bersatu contesting 16 seats, PAS 11, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party five and Pejuang one.
However, PAS reportedly drew the ire of Bersatu after issuing a directive instructing all PAS members and supporters to vote for Barisan Nasional candidates in the Johor election.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported as saying that the directive was issued to ensure support for Umno and Barisan in constituencies where PAS is not fielding a candidate.
In Pagoh, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said party members are free to decide how they vote in seats where Perikatan is not contesting.
“If Perikatan is contesting, support Perikatan. We are not going to support other parties contesting against us,” he told reporters at Kampung Jayor here.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu would not issue instructions that could confuse its supporters.
"If the party contesting is not our party, then as a matter of principle, we will not support,” he said during a walkabout with Bersatu candidate for the Bukit Kepong state seat, Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal.
Muhyiddin said Perikatan was contesting in almost all seats, either through Bersatu or other parties aligned with the coalition.
However, he said voters would have to make their own decision in areas where Bersatu was not contesting.
“If there is no Bersatu candidate in an area but there is another candidate, then they make their own decision,” he said.
