MELAKA: PAS is hoping to strengthen its political cooperation with Barisan Nasional beyond Melaka, with an eye on extending the alliance to Putrajaya.
PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad said the success of the cooperation between Perikatan Nasional and Barisan in the Melaka polls should pave the way for a stronger partnership at the national level.
"God willing, we will strengthen it further. It began to take root in Johor, blossomed in Negri Sembilan and has now borne fruit in Melaka.
"Hopefully, it will flourish in Putrajaya next," he said when asked about the future of the political alliance.
Idris credited the cooperation between grassroots machinery from both coalitions for their success in the state polls.
He said campaign workers from Perikatan and Barisan had demonstrated close cooperation, particularly in mobilising voters.
"The cooperation was not something superficial. We could see how hard the grassroots worked, sometimes without even having time to talk because they were busy contacting voters," he said.
Idris also thanked Melaka voters, particularly young people, whom he described as an important force for political change.
He expressed hope that the cooperation would continue to strengthen ahead of the next general election.
However, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said political cooperation was not fixed and could take different forms depending on circumstances.
"Political cooperation is something that is constantly evolving. It is not stagnant or fixed.
"We have to wait and see. Different states may require different approaches," she said when asked whether the Barisan-Perikatan partnership would continue following its electoral success.
Azalina pointed out that Barisan had adopted different electoral strategies in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka.
"In Johor, we went solo. Negri Sembilan and Melaka were somewhat different.
"This shows that Barisan Nasional's politics today is more fluid," she said.
She stressed that any political partnership must be based on shared principles, including rejecting extremism and prioritising the people's interests.
"Political ideology must focus on serving the people. Any partner must share that priority.
"We cannot simply come together to win and then abandon the people. That is unacceptable," she said.
Azalina also congratulated Barisan's Melaka leadership and its political partners, praising the coalition's campaign machinery for its disciplined approach.
She said the real work for elected representatives would begin after polling, with the responsibility of fulfilling their commitments to voters.
