Following the widespread attention over his call for a truce among opposition parties, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s latest remarks begs the question if he is taking a step back.

Though reiterating his call for differences between the parties to be respected, he however also mentioned the times when PAS had soldiered on alone in the political battlefield in the past.

His ceasefire suggestion yesterday was welcomed by other parties, but observers quizzed if this was just a personal stand and whether PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang endorsed it.

Malaysiakini has contacted Tuan Ibrahim for comment, and is awaiting his response.

“As mentioned in my previous statement, differences should be respected and not be a focal point for disputes,” he said in his latest media statement.

“History has proven that PAS is willing to be alone when its policies are disputed and opposed by its rakan tahaluf’ (friends in political cooperation),” he added.

The divided opposition parties are currently unable to make an impression at the polls.

In two recent by-elections, BN won with a bigger majority after the oppositions parties failed to set the stage for a straight fight.

Islam the way out

In his latest statement titled ‘What is the way out – Part 2’, Tuan Ibrahim conceded that people had placed too much hope on opposition parties at a time when the nation was facing a crisis.

“If the opposition fails for various reasons, does it mean that there is no way out from the current crisis?

“No, but it won’t be easy,” he said, while stressing that PAS believes that Islam is the way out of the predicament and the party would strive to champion Islam.

“As long as the strife continues, PAS will not lose including when it comes to political coalitions. We fight because of Islam, and for Islam.

“This is what we believe in. This is what it means to fight for Allah, and what sets PAS apart from other parties,” he added.

Following the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat, DAP, PKR and PAS splinter Parti Amanah Negara have formed a new coalition called Pakatan Harapan.

Among those who lauded Tuan Ibrahim’s call was Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who stressed on the need for opposition parties to return to the negotiation table.

The PKR deputy president said that at the very least, these parties should draw up an electoral pact.