No impending split in PAS, says spiritual leader
PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin says the party will strengthen Muafakat Nasional with Umno and support the Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional at the same time. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A PAS leader has dismissed the notion that the party will split over disagreements on whether it should maintain Muafakat Nasional (MN) or continue working with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Hashim Jasin, who is the party’s spiritual leader, told FMT that any dissatisfaction among PAS members would be resolved easily.
He said it was compulsory for members to adhere to any decision made by the party’s central leadership.
However, he acknowledged that PAS leaders were currently at odds on the status of the party’s collaboration with Umno in MN and its membership in PN, a coalition led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, with whom Umno has cut ties.
Observers expect the issue to be hotly debated at the PAS muktamar next month.
Hashim rejected speculation that the differences between PAS leaders would lead to an exodus such as the one that happened in 2015, when the so-called progressive faction of PAS left the party to form Amanah.
Recently, Mokhtar Senik, a PAS Dewan Ulama leader, ticked off several party members who said the move to maintain MN as well as strengthen ties within PN went against president Abdul Hadi Awang’s directive.
He noted that Hadi had spoken of the need to maintain good relations with Umno.
Mokhtar also warned of a repeat of the 2015 incident if members were insincere or were making moves behind the president’s back.
Hashim said any PAS leader voicing the belief that the party should choose either MN or PN would be expressing their personal view, not the party’s.
“PAS’ decision to strengthen MN and at the same time back PN remains,” he added. “There is no issue of backing only PN or MN.”
PETALING JAYA: A PAS leader has dismissed the notion that the party will split over disagreements on whether it should maintain Muafakat Nasional (MN) or continue working with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Hashim Jasin, who is the party’s spiritual leader, told FMT that any dissatisfaction among PAS members would be resolved easily.
He said it was compulsory for members to adhere to any decision made by the party’s central leadership.
However, he acknowledged that PAS leaders were currently at odds on the status of the party’s collaboration with Umno in MN and its membership in PN, a coalition led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, with whom Umno has cut ties.
Observers expect the issue to be hotly debated at the PAS muktamar next month.
Hashim rejected speculation that the differences between PAS leaders would lead to an exodus such as the one that happened in 2015, when the so-called progressive faction of PAS left the party to form Amanah.
Recently, Mokhtar Senik, a PAS Dewan Ulama leader, ticked off several party members who said the move to maintain MN as well as strengthen ties within PN went against president Abdul Hadi Awang’s directive.
He noted that Hadi had spoken of the need to maintain good relations with Umno.
Mokhtar also warned of a repeat of the 2015 incident if members were insincere or were making moves behind the president’s back.
Hashim said any PAS leader voicing the belief that the party should choose either MN or PN would be expressing their personal view, not the party’s.
“PAS’ decision to strengthen MN and at the same time back PN remains,” he added. “There is no issue of backing only PN or MN.”
Unlike the fundamental differences which led to the previous split off which led to Amanah being formed, this time the differences are mainly tactical, between those who want to cooperate with UMNO (Muafakat-ites) and those who want to go it alone or go with Bersatu.
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