PAS Ulama wing information chief Khairuddin Aman Razali also predicted that both PH and PPBM would end up fighting with one another despite signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
This, he said, was because the electoral pact they formed yesterday was meant solely to negotiate the allocation of seats for the next general election.
“This alliance will add to the mess that is already taking place in Pakatan.
“The reality is that they are attempting to negotiate on the seats each party will contest for in the 14th general election.
“But they will be fighting for seats anyway. Based on PAS’s experience with Pakatan Rakyat, PKR and DAP are very stingy with their seats.
“PAS was the most generous. But Amanah, PKR and PPBM will be fighting for the Malay seats,” he told FMT.
While PH and PPBM formally signed a MoU, the latter has not officially joined the opposition pact despite claiming to share the same struggles and principles.
When asked if the PPBM and PH collaboration would affect PAS, Khairuddin replied in the negative, saying the party was strong on its own.
“It shows PAS’s political wisdom. We refuse to follow what others are doing. When the time comes, the other parties will follow PAS.
“They (PH and PPBM) have to accept the fact that the strongest opposition party is PAS.
“This is because the Malays are the majority population and the strongest Islamic party after Umno is PAS.
“Even today’s leaders realise that PAS is a strong party.”
He added that PAS still had the support of its core voters, unlike other opposition parties that relied on the votes of those who were unhappy with the current BN government.
“If they want to work with PAS, then they have to play by our rules. PAS doesn’t need any other party.
“So if anyone is interested in working with PAS, they have to join Gagasan Sejahtera,” said Khairuddin, referring to the opposition bloc consisting of PAS and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan).
“Three-cornered battles are bound to happen.
“One-to-one fights against Umno is theoretical in nature. The reality is that all parties are vying for seats (to contest in the general election).”
DAP’s Abdul Aziz Bari yesterday said PAS would not be able to retain its seats in Selangor and that the party’s refusal to join PH would work against them.
Meanwhile, PAS vice-president Iskandar Abd Samad, speaking to FMT, said PH and PPBM’s electoral pact would be incomplete without PAS.
“We are not a small party; PAS has a lot of members. Any election-based understanding without PAS’s participation would be incomplete.
“PPBM hasn’t even joined Pakatan. It has only signed a MoU. So PAS can still work with PPBM.”