Penang Gerakan has admitted that BN cohesiveness seems to have been threatened lately due to too much politicking.

NONE This politicking, said state Gerakan chief Teng Hock Nan ( right ), is not beneficial to the people and the country.

The coalition has been working well for many years with less politicking among the various parties, he noted.

“Barisan Nasional was formed as a major coalition of political parties in 1974 aimed at pulling together political resources and reducing politicking for better development and the good of the country,” he said.

“However, this cohesiveness seems to have been threatened lately as there has been too much politicking going on in the country.”

He was responding to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s latest invitation to PAS to join BN.

It is unlikely that Gerakan or the other allies in BN would be able to prevent such a development if Umno succeeds in wooing PAS into the ruling coalition.

However, Penang Gerakan appears to have taken a cautious approach towards Najib’s recent strategy to unite Muslim voters to strengthen the BN.

While it does not dare oppose the BN chief’s gesture, Teng said that the party would continue to oppose PAS’ Islamic state stance.

Teng, a former Penang exco member, said the party will not object to PAS cooperating with Umno as long as the latter discards its intention of turning Malaysia into an Islamic state.

Similarly, Teng said Gerakan would not object if BN were to consider accepting DAP into its fold.

That is, if DAP sincerely embarks on a non-racial and moderate approach to all issues, he said

‘PAS did not adhere to its promise’

Meanwhile, Teng said PAS’ dictum of wanting to set up a welfare state in the country during the 2008 general election was seemingly acceptable to the people.

But PAS did not adhere to its promise when it showed its intention of wanting to set up an Islamic state if it takes over the federal government.

“Thus, the people should reject this theocratic party and the coalition, Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

On Sunday, Najib said PAS should leave Pakatan if it truly wants to propagate Islam.

He said this is because PAS could not do anything it sets out to do without DAP, its partner in the coalition, opposing it.

“Whether PAS joins us (BN) or goes it alone is another issue,” Najib added.