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Hadi: PAS open to accepting party hoppers

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said his party was open to accepting political hoppers as they can be educated (tarbiyah) about the party's struggle.

He added that they can eventually leave if they cannot be taught but PAS will always persevere.

"Only those who are strong-willed in line with their Islamic faith will persevere in their struggle. Those who are fragile will hop.

"But PAS continues to accept newcomers and increase its members who will go through the education process.

"Whether they walk or run, PAS' doors are always open to those who want to join or leave, including party hoppers," he said in a statement today.

Historically, Hadi said PAS had also borrowed its platform to the likes of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was sacked from Umno in 1969, veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who split with Umno in 1990 and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim who was sacked by Umno in 1998.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

While PAS has in recent years seen its fair share of defections in and out of the party, it is interesting to note all three examples provided by Hadi were related to Umno.

"PAS does not only accept new members, it has long been a stopover for party leaders who were sacked.

"But it is hard for anyone to accept PAS' long struggle. Sometimes they only join PAS temporarily," he added.

Hadi said regardless of defection in or out of the party, history has shown that PAS will persevere.

To date, 15 Umno MPs and 10 PKR MPs have defected to Bersatu. Four more former PKR lawmakers, who are friendly to Perikatan Nasional (PN), may eventually join Bersatu.

While Bersatu is gradually trying to build up its base, PAS remains a powerhouse in the east coast states.

Umno is facing internal upheaval over its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's attempt to steer the party away from PN and to explore cooperation with PKR.

Several Umno leaders have spoken out against Zahid but there is no apparent threat of another exodus yet.

All eyes are on Umno's party election, planned for June. If it is not postponed, Zahid's opponents may see the polls to chart a different course for the party.