PAS is confident it will receive full cooperation from BN and the opposition coalition's machinery in the forthcoming Seri Setia by-election.

PAS Ulama wing treasurer Khairuddin Aman Razali said this was based on an assurance given previously by the Umno leadership.

"We are confident BN will help PAS get votes in Seri Setia, as assured by an Umno leader, and I think it's time for us (PAS and Umno) to cooperate strategically in the context of elections," Khairuddin told Malaysiakini at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

He was referring to a statement by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who is also BN deputy chairperson, that BN will give way for PAS to contest in the Seri Setia by-election as a gesture of respect and appreciation for PAS' "sacrifice" in allowing Umno to contest in the Sungai Kandis by-election.

The Seri Setia state seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyperson Shaharuddin Badaruddin (photo) from colon cancer last week. It is the third by-election to be held in Selangor since the May 9 general election.

Khairuddin, who is also Kuala Nerus MP, went on to deny that PAS leaders have wagered their reputation by giving direct to indirect orders for PAS voters to vote for BN in Sungai Kandis, to ensure Harapan's defeat.

In fact, what the PAS leaders did were based on the basic principles of the party, pertaining to its strategic cooperation with Umno, he said.

"They did not simply do it, it is a strategic move.

"The strategy we took was to gauge the opposition's strength, and we will continue to harness it in the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections," he said.

This was in reply to a statement by PAS Youth vice-chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari that the Islamist party had supported Umno in Sungai Kandis as an "experiment" to see whether its members would back cooperation between the two parties, but the attempt has failed.

Khairuddin opined further that the time has come for the opposition to be strengthened to face the ruling government.

"Even the last time, when we were in the opposition, when we did not have political cooperation with Harapan, we still worked together on many issues to face Umno, which was the then government. It is actually normal.

"There is no question about wagering anyone's reputation. That might be a personal opinion, but it is actually a strategy we have to strengthen policies and principles we hold in unison," he said.