KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu's decision to contest the Negri Sembilan election using its own logo indicates that it has chosen to part ways with Perikatan Nasional, says Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The Perikatan information chief said the announcement was made before the coalition's supreme council meeting on Thursday (July 16) morning to finalise candidate selection, seat allocation and the use of logos.
"Bersatu announcing its position ahead of the council's decision is its prerogative, and we respect that choice," he said in a Facebook statement.
"The decision did not come as a surprise as we were informed last month before the nomination of candidates for the Johor state election, and were given documentary evidence outlining Bersatu's plans to establish another political platform outside of Perikatan.
"We understood from the beginning that Bersatu opposed efforts to unite and foster consensus among the Malays, as well as its rejection of initiatives to open up Perikatan to more Malay-based parties."
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Annuar, a PAS central committee member, said that Perikatan understood the decision regardless of the reasons given by Bersatu for using its own logo in the Negri Sembilan state election.
He also claimed that Bersatu previously expressed its intention to contest 15 seats in Negri Sembilan, but this was difficult given that Perikatan has six component parties to vie for a limited number of seats. (There are 36 seats in the state legislative assembly.)
"That aspiration was clearly not something Perikatan could accommodate.... It would not have been possible for Bersatu to claim (so many seats).
"Its decision to contest under its own logo is the best course of action for the party and should be respected.
"Bersatu is now free to contest 15 seats or more in Negri Sembilan," he said.
For PAS, he said, the unity of the ummah remains its priority, rather than the number of seats contested.
"We wish Bersatu all the best," he added.
Bersatu said on Wednesday (July 15) that it would contest in Negri Sembilan with its own logo instead of under the Perikatan banner.
Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was decided after its coalition partner PAS pursued cooperation with Barisan Nasional without an internal Perikatan discussion.
He said his party’s supreme council met on Wednesday night and expressed regret that PAS made a unilateral decision.
“PAS’ decision is against the interest of Perikatan as a political coalition which is supposed to be an alternative to Barisan and Pakatan Harapan.
"Due to the Perikatan seat allocation committee meeting being postponed indefinitely and that Bersatu was not roped in for any discussion on the coalition’s seat allocation, the party’s candidates in this election will use Bersatu’s logo," he said.
