PAS today announced that it is cooperating with Malay pressure group Perkasa on issues of mutual interest.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that they agree on two matters of immediate mutual interest, which are to condemn Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and the usage of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) against former Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang.

Reading a joint statement, Hadi said both issues were critical and had serious implications on the people of Malaysia.

"We are concerned that the usage of Sosma in this case could be viewed as power abuse, which could affect stability while going against the freedom of speech principle as guaranteed by the government.

"We also urge the government to be transparent and to not lie to the public on the TPPA," he told reporters at a press conference at PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hadi ( photo , left ) also urged for the setting-up of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's account.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali (photo, right) said both parties will be doing programmes together and would support each other's causes for the benefit of the people.

The former Pasir Mas MP had previously won his seat in 2008 under the PAS ticket before turning his back on Pakatan Rakyat, to become one of their chief critics.

"We had a very frank, open and sincere discussion and I even explained why I was critical towards PAS before.

"Now we are even. Everything is behind us," he said cheerfully.

Hadi hugged

Ibrahim congratulated PAS for severing ties with DAP which he said was fair because the Islamic party's objective was to stand up for Islam and not be aligned with a secular party.

PAS secretary general Takiyuddin Hassan said that this cooperation meant that PAS was open to everyone and the agenda announced today was only the start of their friendship.

"We are open to everyone and all NGOs including Perkasa. Recently, when we organised the Kongres Rakyat, we managed to pool around 200 NGOs," he said.

Ibrahim along with 34 Perkasa supreme council members, spent about two hours at the PAS headquarters before the press conference.

While posing for press photographers later, Ibrahim hugged Hadi in full spirit saying that they were now friends and should go beyond just shaking hands.

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