It is no secret that PAS and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) are bitter political foes. In last week's Sarawak state election, the two battled each other in numerous seats but won none.

Hence, PAS lawmaker Mahfuz Omar has called on the two parties to take heed of their respective strengths and weaknesses.

He wants them to set aside their differences and join forces to defeat Umno and the ruling coalition.

"There is nothing wrong with PAS talking to Amanah, a party born from the internal conflict within PAS, if it can help rebuild PAS' image in the national political landscape.

"Similarly, it is also not wrong for Amanah to discuss with PAS to seek a formula to defeat Umno and BN," he said in a media statement.

Mahfuz urged both parties to learn from the past episode involving PAS and Umno splinter Semangat 46, led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

He recalled how Tengku Razaleigh, despite being involved in engineering the downfall of the PAS government in Kelantan in 1978, later worked with PAS in a coalition known as Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU).

He pointed out that APU also included Parti Berjasa, which was formed during an internal crisis in PAS in 1977 and Hamim, the brainchild of the late former PAS president Asri Muda.

"In the 1990 general election, PAS accepted and cooperated in APU which involved three parties which had formerly betrayed PAS," said the Pokok Sena MP.

Mahfuz noted how PAS was able to form the government in Kelantan in that election.

"The question is, would it be wrong for PAS and Amanah to discuss and cooperate to defeat Umno and BN in the coming general election?" he asked.

Amanah, which is led by former PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu, came into existence following the break-up of then opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat comprising PKR, DAP and PAS last year.

Amanah is now a member of the re-branded opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, which excludes PAS.