Twenty-four hours has passed since PAS made the announcement , but it is still unclear which multiracial opposition party that will form a political bloc with the Islamic party to face the next general election.

The four multiracial parties Malaysiakini contacted have either denied such cooperation or were noncommittal with their response.

Former Umno minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who leads the PAS-friendly Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan), said it was too premature for him to say anything.

"I cannot say anything. I am denying it (for now).

"This is because we have actually not firmed up everything yet. We have been close with PAS for the past two years, we have been talking, meeting, taking common positions (with them) in various issues.

"(But) for formal cooperation, we have not decided yet," he said, adding that they have yet to receive any invitation from PAS to join the bloc.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan had announced yesterday that they will form a political bloc with various parties and NGOs to face the 2018 polls.

To begin with, PAS will sign a memorandum of understanding with a multiracial opposition party next Wednesday. He even called the new bloc a third force which he hoped will grow in time and be an even match for Pakatan Harapan.

Kadir said he was delighted that PAS has finally decided to take a mature political approach.

"I definitely think what PAS intended to do is good for country. The simple reason is that they have decided to change the way they want things to be done.

"They are not just shouting about. They want to force the government to implement (their policies)," he added.

Speculation has been rife that the two-year-old Ikatan is the opposition party which PAS plans to form ties.

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), a democratic socialist party which was formed in 1989, also denied they will work with PAS.

"PAS did not approach us and we won't join. I mean we are not sure what they are up to," said PRM secretary-general Kho Swe Yong.

The five-year-old Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) also denied it will join force with PAS.

In fact, its chief Masrum Dayat expressed the party's stand not to associate with PAS.

"I was not approached before they made the announcement," he said in a text message.

PSM: We don’t know anything about this

Meanwhile, Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) also made a firm stand not to work with PAS under its current leadership.

"I don't think they will invite us, we don't know anything about this," said party secretary-general A Sivarajan.

He said PSM can work with other political parties on certain issues and on common grounds although they may have different ideologies.

PSM and PAS did work together six years ago on certain issues, he added.

"But with the current conservative leadership of PAS and their style of leadership, I don't think there will be any chance for us to work with them," he said, adding that PSM had issues with hudud which is championed by PAS.

As for PSM, he said, the party has formed a leftist coalition with ten NGOs, where they plan to offer voters an alternative at the polls.

Following the demise of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the formation of Pakatan Harapan nine months ago,

PAS' representatives in Dewan Rakyat has reduced to 14.