ALOR STAR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today lamented that Pas has become weaker under the leadership of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, to the extent that it now a “confused” party.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said this has resulted in the party not being able to form a firm stand on important issues and lacked coordination in making decisions.
He insinuated that Abdul Hadi has “more charisma” than previous Pas leaders.
“Yes the way I see it, Abdul Hadi has ‘more charisma’ compared to the previous Pas leaders such as the late (Datuk) Fadzil Noor, (Datuk) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and (Tan Sri) Dr Mohd Asri Muda.
“People are making all sort of allegations against him (Abdul Hadi) but he is incapable to responding to the accusations,” he said.
Dr Mahathir, who is also PPBM Langkawi division chief also claimed that Pas under Abdul Hadi’s leadership has become lost in its direction.
“I sensed that that Pas is pretty much confused, like I have said recently. Sometimes it seemed that they are keen to join us (Pakatan Harapan) but other times they are not.
“They (Pas) asked us to organise a joint-meeting but when we set the date, they said they did not ask for it, so there is no proper coordination in Pas,” he told a press conference after attending a meeting between PPBM and Pakatan Harapan leaders in Kedah at the party’s headquarters in Stargate here.
Present were his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir who is also PPBM deputy chairman and state Pakatan Harapan leaders.
Dr Mahathir also denied that he was the reason for the failed talks between Pas and PPBM on a possible collaboration in the next general election.
He said it was Pas leaders who had made statements on the matter and not him.
Earlier today in Kota Bharu, Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan hinted that several decisions made by Dr Mahatir could have led to the collapse of the talks between both parties.
Takiyuddin was reported to have said that although Dr Mahathir is PPBM chairman, he has some executive power in making decisions in the party.