PAS rallies support for PN govt in strongest signal yet against Umno

PAS has called on all Muslim organisations in the country to defend the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, in the strongest sign yet of the party’s opposition to Umno leaders who are against the ruling bloc.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also said his party is opposed to any pact that deviates from the original goal of Muafakat Nasional, the charter it inked with Umno during their time in the opposition.

“PAS rejects any agenda that solely aims to save individual leaders and groups, not to save the country and the people,” Hadi said in a statement.

He said the original aim of Muafakat Nasional was to defend the people.

He added that his party was not subject to predictions about its future based on its current actions.

“PAS believes more in the promise of God, and not in political predictions such as the assumption that ‘if PAS does this, then it will be like this, and if it does that, then it will be like that’.”

His remarks are seen as his strongest show of support yet for Bersatu, the party with which PAS has been a partner in the PN coalition.

Umno leaders led by their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak had been reminding PAS that it was bound by the Muafakat Nasional charter, saying the pact takes priority over the PN coalition.

Last weekend, the Umno general assembly chose to cut ties with PN at the next general election.

PAS has repeatedly stated its commitment to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, but has offered to play peacemaker between Umno and Bersatu.

Hadi today said PAS would reject any charter with those who show disloyalty to the country and “extreme behaviour that challenges race and religion”.

“Let us accept this new offer, one that has integrity and virtue and is based on the Federal Constitution, which celebrates a multi-religious and multiracial society,” he added.