No Surprise If Pas Deserts Bersatu Says Puad

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Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi says PAS views the unification of the ummah as a political gimmick. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: No one should be surprised if PAS deserts Bersatu one day, as it did Umno in Muafakat Nasional (MN), says Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi.
According to Puad, PAS prioritises political gain and views the unification of the ummah as a political gimmick.
“This unification is not easy to achieve. PAS’s attitude only reveals its flaws, that is, it also engages in politicking.
“It is not a genuine platform for the Islamic struggle. PAS changes its stance according to current needs.
“That’s why PAS can leave their friends like they left DAP and PKR,” Puad told FMT
On Sunday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said he would stick with MN and defend Perikatan Nasional (PN) – its alliance with Bersatu – at the same time. PAS could not establish political cooperation with only Umno, he said, as doing so would be against the concept of ‘asabiah’, or unity and social solidarity.
Puad described PAS as a party “living in two worlds”.
“In the context of MN, PAS does not want to be a mediator but it wants to ensure that no party, especially Umno, will be dominant.
“Its ‘play safe’ stance in managing political cooperation with Umno and Bersatu is no longer a secret. It needs to choose between Umno or Bersatu.”
Puad said PAS knows that the unification of Malay parties will not be achieved if it joins two coalitions.
“Choose one of the two. You can’t keep dodging. There is no ‘play safe’.
“Umno is adamant that it will not join PN. There will be no cooperation with Bersatu in the 15th general election,” he said.
In an Utusan Malaysia report yesterday, Johor Umno deputy chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed said PAS’ move was similar to the dilemma of handling “polygamy matters”.
Between Umno and PN, he said, PAS seemed to have forgotten who the “wife and husband” were in MN, and the real pillar of the pact was Umno, which functioned as the “husband”.
He said it was evident from the Melaka and Sarawak state elections that PAS did not have strong support. - FMT

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