PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang simply does not understand why other opposition parties seem to have a hard time when it comes to PAS having good relations with Umno.

Hadi explained that there were reasons why PAS wants to be cordial with Umno.

“They (opposition parties) seem to have a hard time because we want to approach Umno.

“Yes, it’s true that we want to have cordial ties with Umno, if not, how are we supposed to ask them to vote for us?” rationalised Hadi in his speech held at Dataran Ketior, Manong last night.

The veteran PAS leader added that the Islamist party also wants to be civil with its now arch-enemy, the DAP.

But this, he said, was so that DAP members would vote for PAS, too.

“We have to have good relations with everyone,” he concluded.

Hadi’s remarks come as PAS Youth chief Nik Mohd Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said that PAS not only aspired to, but was determined to unite with Umno to further the cause of Islam.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad however said that PAS had lessened its criticisms against Umno due to being fed with dedak (animal feed).

And in an event held in Kuala Kangsar on Sunday, Mahathir said he had explained about Prime Minister Najib’s purported wrongdoings to Hadi personally, but that the latter only saw dedak.

The country’s longest-serving premier believes that PAS was courting Umno as it requires support after being left as a stand-alone party.