MUKTAMAR PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang gave a firm 'no' today to any “unity government” with Umno and asked its partners in Pakatan Rakyat not to betray their political cooperation.
 
In his policy speech to delegates at the party's muktamar in Batu Pahat, Hadi described talk that PAS will be working with Umno as a slander to sully the party's image.

PAS, he declared, had never betrayed its partners in the various political cooperation it had in the past.
 
“The accusations that PAS will join hands with Umno, together with BN, is slander that has been ignited by those irresponsible and who are out to destroy the reputation of our fight for Islam. 
 
"Throughout the history of PAS' struggle, we have never betrayed our partners in 'tahaluf' (cooperation).
 
"Therefore, we ask that our partners to also not betray this 'tahaluf' (political cooperation)," he said, to shouts of Allah-u-Akbar (God is Great) from the floor.
 
He stressed that any major decisions must be done based on consensus.
 
Hadi, who is also Marang MP, said the cooperation must strengthen PAS, and not otherwise.
 
"It will be unfortunate for us if this cooperation causes certain quarters to try and weaken us, to create a mess among us to the extent that some become dizzy and are willing to cause fights among ourselves," he said, but he did not name anybody.
 
However, Hadi reiterated that PAS would remain within Pakatan as long as the coalition abides by the principles of Islam.
 
Hadi's remarks come amid strained ties between PAS and its partners PKR and DAP over the Selangor menteri besar saga. 

Top leaders of DAP and PKR absent
 
In a break from convention, the topmost leaders of DAP and PKR were absent from the 60th PAS muktamar today.
 
PKR was represented by its vice-presidents Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Tian Chua, while DAP only sent its Johor leader, state DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.

The conflict stemmed from factions within PAS disagreeing to nominate PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the next Selangor mentor besar, even though her party and DAP are backing her.
 
While the PAS central committee had endorsed Wan Azizah, Hadi and the party's powerful Syura Council overruled the decision.
 
Hadi had previously blamed PKR of "stealing" two of its Selangor assemblypersons, after PAS' Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) backed Wan Azizah.
 
Elaborating on the muktamar's theme "Terus Beristiqamah" (be consistent in the struggle), Hadi told party members not to be impatient in their cause.
 
"People should not think that they are strong, be impatient in their struggle and think that they are smart that they can simply go against the party's policies and purpose of struggle," he said.
 
He stressed that PAS' struggle is long and arduous, which he said was a blessing as it could weed out unwanted members.
 
"Our road is very challenging but it cleanses PAS from hypocrites with a weak faith, from individuals who are impatient that they become inconsistent in their struggle," he said.
 
Hadi also stressed the importance of the Syura Council and said all members must understand its role and abide by it.
 
He also lamented the attacks PAS members were hurling at one another in the social media.
 
"PAS members must be responsible in whatever informaton that they disseminate," he said.
 
Hadi did not single out any specifics but his comment comes amid fierce debates on the Selangor crisis in the social media among PAS leaders.