The Malacca chapter of Amanah has asked for the formation of Pakatan Harapan in the state to be postponed, citing that certain member of the coalition is still insistent on working with PAS.

Malacca Amanah secretary Yuhaizad Abdullah ( photo ) did not specify which party he was referring to but it was an obvious reference to PKR, which is the sole member of Pakatan Harapan that is still cooperating with PAS.

"This request for postponement is because Malacca Amanah would like clarification about the status of allied party in Pakatan Harapan that is cooperating with PAS.

"At the same time, PAS is also cooperating with Perkasa.

"Malacca Amanah feels that the decision of any component parties to have a relationship with PAS which is friendly with Perkasa must explain itself as the rakyat know that Perkasa is a racist NGO that supports Umno's aspirations and struggle," he said in a statement today.

He added that many Perkasa members formerly held positions in Umno or are still ranking members of the party.

Yuhaizad was responding to the Pakatan Harapan central leadership which instructed the formation of the coalition in every state.

Postponement pending clarification

The coalition at the central level was set up on Sept 22 comprising PKR, DAP and Amanah.

PAS had declined to be involved in the coalition, citing irreconcilable differences with DAP and Amanah, which is a splinter of PAS.

Yuhaizad said he hoped that Amanah's central leadership will consider the state's request for a postponement pending clarification on the matter.

"It should be reminded that Perkasa have hurt the feelings of many Malaysians with its racist statements and actions on top of often supporting the policies of Umno and BN that are detrimental to the rakyat," he said.

On Tuesday, Perkasa paid a courtesy visit to the PAS headquarters where it was announced the two sides will cooperate on certain issues.

PAS later said there was no political cooperation and that the only areas of "agreement" were on the abuse of Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and 1MDB.

PKR has insisted that the new opposition coalition must be wide-ranging and that means including PAS, which is refusing to join them.