Another opposition leader has refuted the PAS youth wing's insinuation that a vote for Pakatan Harapan is a vote for DAP.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said PAS has pressed the panic button by issuing such remarks, as they realise that forgoing their "PAS for All" motto has isolated the party from the rakyat.

"Now with the present PAS leadership trying to form a partnership (directly or indirectly) with the present regime, the rakyat is not supporting them," Saifuddin told Malaysiakini.

"The PAS leadership is beginning to see that the strategy is backfiring."

Hence, Saifuddin said, PAS was now following Umno’s strategy of “creating a bogeyman to instill fear and doubt in the Malays and Muslims” by vilifying DAP.

"Looks like PAS is in the same flotilla to bring the rakyat to support the current regime," added the former Machang MP.

Saifuddin was responding to PAS Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi who declared yesterday that a vote for Harapan equals a vote for DAP.

Earlier today, Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa had chided Khalil for his remark, saying that he sounded like an Umno youth leader.

Khalil, the son of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, made the remark following Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's strategist Rais Hussin's statement that a vote for PAS is a vote for Umno.

The remarks came in the wake of PAS leaders rejecting any political cooperation with PKR, although the latter has supported talking to the former to prevent three-cornered fights in the coming polls.

The decision to talk to PAS has been intensely debated within PKR, while Harapan has issued an ultimatum to drop discussions with the Islamist party.

Upholding constitutional principles

Saifuddin said DAP and others parties including PAS in the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat had earlier agreed to uphold critical principles related to the Federal Constitution.

This was evident in their 2009 manifesto which was signed in Shah Alam, Selangor, he said.

The issues are mainly upholding Bahasa Malaysia as the official language, bumiputera special rights, equitable sharing of the economic pie and social integration for all, among others.

Saifuddin recalled that the manifesto was signed by top Pakatan Rakyat leaders including PAS supremo Abdul Hadi Awang.

He said the main principle and objective of an electoral pact like Harapan is to topple the present government.

"DAP is in Harapan because of its principle of collaborating with other parties to bring down the present BN regime,” Saifuddin said.

"The principle of agreeing to disagree has always been the underlying bind between parties as the main objective is to replace the present BN regime," Saifuddin explained.