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PAS warns of opportunistic 'friends' out to take advantage
Published:  Sep 29, 2016 7:54 AM
Updated: Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat issued a warning last night about 'friends' who would try to take advantage of PAS, and said the Islamic party would be better off working in a coalition of honest partners.

Tuan Ibrahim noted that there were calls for the party to work with certain quarters, which he did not name.

PAS, he said, would instead focus on building its own alliance, Gagasan Sejahtera, ahead of the next general election.

"As a party with a long experience of political cooperation, PAS can recognise the storm that it needs to steadfastly weather.

"It can also read and recognise sincere friends and friends who only want to ride on PAS' strength, and sniff out enemies who pretend to want to be friends," Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement.

He pointed out how PAS' own 'friends' had attacked the party during the Sarawak state election and the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

"The attacks from friends, who were still cooperating with PAS, were equally great because they thought they have found a new partner that could fill the void left by PAS," he said.

Although Tuan Ibrahim (photo) did not mention anyone or any party, PKR is the only party that still had relations with PAS at that time.

PKR, along with DAP and Amanah, had campaigned against PAS during the Sarawak election and twin by-elections.

"Despite coming under attack, today, it seems many want to cooperate with PAS.

"Isn't it strange to ask for cooperation with a party that has been accused of being subservient to Umno?" Tuan Ibrahim asked.

He also recalled an incident in the past where PAS had apparently been taken advantage of.

"An election contest is not just about the candidate, there needs to be a machinery to function during the campaign and after.

"There were those who had candidates but did not have any machinery or workers.

"Even more unfortunate was that a party piled up their candidate's posters at the PAS offices and asked that PAS workers put them up," he said.

Tuan Ibrahim said this could be forgiven if it was a new party.

"But for old parties that appear during election seasons and make big speeches, I'm sorry, (we can't help)," he said, adding that it was precisely such parties that cause seat tussles.

"Candidates who have machineries working under them are not given seats to contest but candidates who do not have any machinery are given seats to contest," he said.

Tuan Ibrahim added that while PAS may make mistakes, it also constantly seeks to improve itself.

He said the party would not seek to remove one leader while still retaining a corrupt system.

Pakatan Harapan and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) have stressed the need for a one-on-one contest in the next general election.

However, it remains unclear if PAS, which wields considerable influence, is on board with the idea.

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