'Jealous' PAS should be 'thanked' for breaking up PN - Ramasamy

'Jealous' PAS should be 'thanked' for breaking up PN - Ramasamy

Published: Jun 19, 2026 11:10 AM
Updated: 1:36 PM



In a sarcastic swipe against PAS, Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy “thanked” the Islamist party for breaking up the Perikatan Nasional coalition’s unity.

He also attributed PAS’ recent moves to jealousy over Bersatu’s growing political strength.

Lamenting the situation, Ramasamy said that if PN had consolidated itself as a unified opposition bloc, the coalition would have had a good chance of winning the next general election.

However, Ramasamy stated that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is unable to recognise the opportunity, which turned into a setback for PN.

“As the saying goes, history is made not under circumstances of our own choosing, but when opportunities present themselves at the right moment.

“Unfortunately, PAS, with all its political rhetoric, failed to grasp the essence of politics crucial for electoral victory.

“As a result of the severing of ties with Bersatu, it is doubtful that a PAS-led opposition can make a significant mark in national politics.

“There is a possibility that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim might congratulate the PAS leadership for accomplishing a feat that Pakatan Harapan itself could not achieve,” Ramasamy said in a statement today.

Urimai is part of Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat, a loose pact aligned with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.


Divorce

On June 9, PAS terminated political ties with Bersatu, adding that it would pursue a form of political understanding and electoral pact in the interest of ummah unity.

Subsequently, PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar removed Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin as PN’s election director and replaced him with PAS election director Sanusi Nor.

Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali was also removed as PN’s deputy secretary-general.

Hamzah Zainudin


PAS had also aligned itself with Parti Wawasan Negara, led by former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, adding that the Larut MP will be reappointed as parliamentary opposition leader.

Miscalculation

Criticising the purge of Bersatu leaders from the PN leadership and the reappointment of Hamzah, Ramasamy accused PAS of failing to adopt a national perspective in politics.

Instead, he said PAS chose to base its political strength on a handful of states.

“It miscalculated the political requirements necessary for a broader and more inclusive outlook.

“Had PAS possessed a truly national political orientation, it could have mended ties with Bersatu,” he said.

However, Ramasamy cautioned detractors against writing off Bersatu’s political future.

Without having to deal with PAS, he said Bersatu now has an opportunity to broaden its political horizons.

“Politics is not one-dimensional; it is about emerging from the doldrums with renewed strength and vigour.

“In this respect, Bersatu, freed from the burden of PAS, might well emerge as a qualitatively different political party from what it was before,” he added.