Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said sceptics of the formation of a new Islamic party have to address the possibility that even if Pakatan Rakyat wins with PAS support, the latter may not remain committed to the pact.

Addressing what he called "cynicism" of several pro-opposition commentators of late, he said sceptics need to ask themselves what the prospects are for the opposition to continue working with PAS as it stands.

Commenting in a blog posting last night, he touched on two questions raised by former Malaysiakini editor Fathi Aris Omar and other "sceptics".

The first is whether PAS can retain its west coast seats in the next general elections.

The second was: "Can PAS be trusted to assure us that it is still relevant as an opposition party especially in the west coast of the Peninsula?"

"It is all the more tragic if the sceptics' answer to the second question is 'No'," wrote Khalid.

In such a case, he said, it would mean there is "no guarantee PAS will remain committed to Pakatan Rakyat after the coalition wins".

"Therefore, the credibility of PAS as a party that is committed to Pakatan will continue to be doubted based on past experience.

"And if so, wouldn't the formation of a new party that champions Islam represent an answer to this dilemma?" he asked.

"What is the use of enduring the trouble of helping PAS, but after winning, incidents such as 2008, and more clearly, after 2013 would repeat itself?

"Maybe in those cases there were progressives in PAS that helped to prevent the incidents, but what of now?" said the MP.

History of infidelity

While Khalid did not elaborate, he was likely referring to the alleged unity talks between certain PAS leaders and Umno after the opposition swept five states in the landmark 2008 general elections, and similar intrigues last year involving the Selangor government . 

The outspoken PAS progressives also slammed sceptics for singing to BN's tune that the splinter PAS leaders would become "DAP's tools" or be its "junior partner".

"Such accusations are more suited to be trumpeted by writers under the payroll of Umno-BN than someone whom I understand is a Pakatan supporter.

"Therefore has the writer's perception towards DAP been clouded by the prejudice cribbed from the BTN syllabus or Umno mentality?" he asked.