SEREMBAN: Pakatan Harapan has questioned the validity of the "unification of the ummah" concept, claiming it has failed to translate into economic prosperity for states currently governed by PAS.
Pakatan election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said if the concept worked, residents in the PAS-led states of Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis should have much higher living standards or income levels comparable with major global economic hubs like Tokyo, Dubai and Doha.
"All 32 elected reps in the Terengganu assembly are from Perikatan Nasional and 44 of the 45 in Kelantan are from Perikatan Barisan Nasional.
"Similarly, 33 of the 36 wakil rakyat in the Kedah assembly are from Perikatan and in Perlis, there is only one member of the Opposition.
"But the people from these states still go and look for job opportunities and comfortable lives in states like Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang," he said in a statement.
Amirudin said if some parties, having run out of ideas, wish to mislead the people with political rhetoric for the need for unification of the ummah, Pakatan's resolve was built upon the unity of the people.
This, he said, was also in line with the principles of the Rukun Negara for a prosperous, harmonious and stable future for Negri Sembilan and Malaysia, through the development of a confident and visionary society.
Amirudin said in 1981, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had accused Umno of being an ignorant party.
"But lately, the PAS president seems to have forgotten history and has stated intentions to work with Umno supposedly for the unity of the ummah," he said, adding that this was not the first time this was done.
Amirudin said Barisan Nasional needs to realise this reality, claiming that Perikatan will also soon try to "swallow" them.
He said signs of Perikatan's intentions could be seen with a suggestion for them to be known as "Perikatan Barisan Nasional".
"On the contrary, Pakatan has proven that a unity coalition built on trust is a value-driven, moral alliance, determined to uplift the dignity of the people so that Malaysia's economy succeeds.
"Pakatan's performance and commitment are not mere promises as this has already been proven in Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan and at the Federal level," he added.
