FMT:
Support for PAS ‘stagnant’ before PN, says Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin Yassin says PAS recorded lower majorities when it contested solo at the polls before teaming up with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin dismissed any chance of PAS joining the unity government.
KUALA LUMPUR: Support for PAS was somewhat “stagnant” before the party joined forces with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional (PN), says Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Bersatu president said PAS did not register huge majorities when it contested solo at the polls before last year’s general election (GE15).
He added that since its alliance with Bersatu, PAS not only controls four states but almost wrested Selangor from Pakatan Harapan in the state election last August.
The PAS-led states are Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah.
“PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan see this (alliance) as an advantage. We cannot go on our own.
“We could, but the outcome won’t be like this,” he told FMT, referring to the huge majorities.
Muhyiddin said that prior to GE15, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was able to win with a majority of about 10,000 to 15,000 votes in a general election.
However, in GE15, Hadi won with a majority of more than 40,000 votes, he added.
“Previously the number of votes Hadi and PAS won was stagnant, but with PN, they recorded phenomenal majorities,” he said.
In GE15, PAS won 43 seats, its best-ever electoral outing to date. Many observers then coined the term “green wave” to describe the party’s success as it managed to woo a vast majority of Malay-Muslim voters.
The party also wrested Perlis from Barisan Nasional, which had won the state in every general election before last year.
“Voters were not backing PAS or Bersatu, but were supporting PN as a coalition,” Muhyiddin said.
The PN chairman said PAS would remain part of the coalition, in the wake of four Bersatu MPs declaring support for Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
The four are Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli).
“As far as I am concerned, PAS will not leave (PN) as they are wise enough to know that no political party can go solo and form the government,” he said, adding that both PAS and Bersatu did not have sufficient numbers on their own to form the government.
The former prime minister also dismissed Anwar’s invitation last month for PAS to join the unity government.
“They (PAS and the unity government) have different ideologies when it comes to religion (Islam),” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Support for PAS was somewhat “stagnant” before the party joined forces with Bersatu to form Perikatan Nasional (PN), says Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Bersatu president said PAS did not register huge majorities when it contested solo at the polls before last year’s general election (GE15).
He added that since its alliance with Bersatu, PAS not only controls four states but almost wrested Selangor from Pakatan Harapan in the state election last August.
The PAS-led states are Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah.
“PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan see this (alliance) as an advantage. We cannot go on our own.
“We could, but the outcome won’t be like this,” he told FMT, referring to the huge majorities.
Muhyiddin said that prior to GE15, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was able to win with a majority of about 10,000 to 15,000 votes in a general election.
However, in GE15, Hadi won with a majority of more than 40,000 votes, he added.
“Previously the number of votes Hadi and PAS won was stagnant, but with PN, they recorded phenomenal majorities,” he said.
In GE15, PAS won 43 seats, its best-ever electoral outing to date. Many observers then coined the term “green wave” to describe the party’s success as it managed to woo a vast majority of Malay-Muslim voters.
The party also wrested Perlis from Barisan Nasional, which had won the state in every general election before last year.
“Voters were not backing PAS or Bersatu, but were supporting PN as a coalition,” Muhyiddin said.
The PN chairman said PAS would remain part of the coalition, in the wake of four Bersatu MPs declaring support for Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
The four are Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli).
“As far as I am concerned, PAS will not leave (PN) as they are wise enough to know that no political party can go solo and form the government,” he said, adding that both PAS and Bersatu did not have sufficient numbers on their own to form the government.
The former prime minister also dismissed Anwar’s invitation last month for PAS to join the unity government.
“They (PAS and the unity government) have different ideologies when it comes to religion (Islam),” he said.
PN did provide some cover for people to vote PAS who oppose PH, but don't really want an Islamic Caliphate.
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