PAS leader says it again: We're all for Pakatan

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang again dispelled a possible alliance between the Islamic party and arch-rival Umno, stressing the importance of strengthening the fledgling Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Speaking at a special party seminar meant to address internal kinks within the party, Abdul Hadi urged PAS members to play a more active role in the opposition coalition and get more support from Malaysians.

"In discussing PAS relations with other parties, I would like to reiterate for the umpteenth time that we will continue to be with Pakatan Rakyat to lead the people towards a genuine change," he told more than 1,000 delegates in PAS ‘markaz’ in Taman Melewar, Kuala Lumpur.

“We will play a more active role as what we have already decided and debated in two previous PAS muktamar (annual general assemblies).”

Abdul Hadi’s assurance to the party grassroots and Pakatan coalition partners comes in the wake of growing criticism against him and his men, which have been labelled pro-Umno.

The loudest critic has been PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who branded Abdul Hadi and his close followers as “problematic leaders”, and mooted a special ‘muktamar’ to seek their removal.

This idea was eventually shot down and replaced with this seminar which includes inviting two critical academics - Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari and Prof Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah - who offered stinging criticism of PAS leaders in their respective speeches.

PAS will always be Islamic

Despite reassuring the party’s commitment to Pakatan, Abdul Hadi slipped a reminder to the delegates that PAS must always uphold its Islamic principles despite working with multi-racial PKR and secularist DAP.

“We should be reminded that we need to know our limitations on ‘tahaluf’ (political coorperation) and ‘walak’ (loyalty) to the Islamic government,” he said.

Abdul Hadi argued that PAS had tried to work with Barisan Nasional in the past but failed miserably.

He also pointed out that the party has enjoyed significant success with Pakatan, save for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

“PAS made a significant achievement in the last general election when we managed to retain Kelantan, and wrested power from BN in Kedah and Perak.

“Although we lost in Bagan Pinang, we have broken the walls of racial division, and this was because of our strong foundation in the PAS Supporters’ Club,” he said.

Abdul Hadi also said that the opposition pact managed to check BN's "arrogance".

In facing the next general election, Abdul Hadi said PAS should build on the support of the non-Muslims.

"This is a political reality in a plural society," he said.

Meanwhile, a frail-looking Nik Aziz left the stage mid-way through Abdul Hadi’s speech.

The much-respected party’s spiritual leader was admitted in the National Heart Institute two days ago after suffering from fatigue. He has just been discharged from the institute.