MARANG: Pas has denied Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that the party would not support Umno in the ongoing Semenyih by-election campaign, said its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan today.
He said Pas will be consistent in its cooperation with Umno in the by-election, adding that the level of support will be different from the one it had accorded to Barisan Nasional in the recent Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election.
He said the decision was in line with the party’s struggle of upholding Islam and the Malays while maintaining its relations with Umno on the basis of unity and solidarity as the opposition.
“There was no written declaration or undertaking that Pas will not support Umno in the Semenyih by-election but there were discussions between (Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and our president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
“Verbally, Pas made its stand not to contest in the by-election but the degree of commitment will be different from the Cameron Highlands by-election. It will not be more nor will it be less,” he told a press conference to clarify the statement by Dr Mahathir yesterday that Pas will not support Umno in the Semenyih by-election.
The meeting chaired by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was attended by Pas vice-presidents Datuk Nik Amar Nik Abdullah and Idris Ahmad, Takiyuddin, Youth chief Abdul Khalil Abdul Hadi, Muslimat chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh, Dewan Ulamak information chief Khairuddin Aman Razali and information chief Nasarudin Hassan Tantawi.
After the one-and-a-half hour meeting, Takiyuddin said the "written undertaking" mentioned by Dr Mahathir recently was a "sample" to show Pas' support for Dr Mahathir on the basis of looking after the interest of religion, nation and race until the 15th General Election.
He also said Pas’ machinery was already active in Semenyih, with its Youths and Muslimat wings already on the ground.
He added that the Islamic party’s presence was already felt during the nomination process yesterday (Feb 16).
“Our level of support for the opposition (BN) is open to interpretation. The issue of whether we support Umno does not arise and we have notified BN of our stand and they accepted it,” he added.
“An agreement was also reached on the need to forge better cooperation in the spirit of federalism between the Federal and state governments of Kelantan and Terengganu, especially on matters related to administration, development and oil royalty.
Asked to explain the need for a written undertaking, Takiyuddin said the president and Pas sensed something was "not right" in the government led by Dr Mahathir.
“If treachery occurs in the Pakatan Harapan government affecting the nation, we will act. Pas will rally behind Tun (Dr Mahathir) if anything happens to him and all our 18 parliament seats will support Tun. That is clear,” he added.
Asked why there was on the need for the declaration which gives an indication that Pas had breached its political barriers, Takiyuddin said the party was concerned with the state of the economy, especially the falling prices of commodities.
Takiyuddin also said that Dr Mahathir and Abdul Hadi also discussed the formation of the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) to look after the interests of Kelantan and Terengganu.
“We don’t have a PH representative to bridge the gap in Kelantan and Terengganu and we have proposed for joint chairmen for MTEN in the two states. The government had appointed Entrepreneur Development Minister Dato Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusoff to look after Terengganu and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for Kelantan.
“We need coordination and cooperation between the Federal and state governments. We were informed that Dr Mahathir will raise this matter in Cabinet,” he added.