No thanks, PAS snubs offer of peace with Anwar

PAS has rejected DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang's suggestion for cooperation between the coalition government and the Islamist party ahead of the elections to be held in six states this year. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin said that the party remained firmly with opposition pact Perikatan Nasional (PN).

"We are committed to PN," he said. 

"Lim should advise the Madani government and PM10 not to lie to the people and give empty promises," he added, referring to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Lim's offer of cooperation came amid apparent efforts by Anwar to reconcile with PAS through a meeting with central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.

In a meeting last week, Anwar had voiced hope for good relations with PAS and its president Abdul Hadi Awang. 

Lim, meanwhile, who was MP for Iskandar Puteri before his retirement from active politics, had suggested that PAS cooperate with the government on two conditions.

Firstly, he said, Hadi should cease hostilies against Anwar and prove his sincerity towards reconciliation.

He said Hadi should also promise not to hurl baseless accusations against DAP. If he agreed, Lim said, PAS should be invited to join the coalition government. 

Lim said this step towards peace was also in line with the decree of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah that Malaysia should have political stability in order to become a progressive and prosperous nation. 

"If Hadi can be an honest, responsible, and respected Muslim leader and he is willing to admit his mistakes in making these wild and absurd accusations, I don't see any reason why PAS cannot be invited to join the unity government," he said to reporters when attending the Unity Government Convention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

PAS won 49 seats at the Nov 19 general election last year, the most of any single party.