Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has given itself until next year to negotiate with PAS on an opposition electoral pact ahead of the coming general election, said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Some time for more engagement between Bersatu and PAS is needed before the former decides to close its door against the Islamic party, according to Muhyiddin.

“There is always a must to some timeline. But, be fair to the parties concerned, since (we have) only held the first meeting (between us).

“We should allow (until) next month (or) next year,” he told a press conference after signing a cooperation and common framework agreement with Pakatan Harapan.

He said he had told this to the party’s Harapan counterparts during the coalition's special presidential council meeting held earlier today.

Muhyiddin also revealed that he met PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat last week.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub had said before that they would discuss the deadline given to PAS before the opposition closed their door of cooperation with the latter.

Salahuddin opined that PAS should be allowed only until the end of the year to decide which side they want to work with.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat had said the opposition parties who wanted to work with PAS, should not contest in the 70 PAS seats.

“This is a compulsory condition. Every time we contested, we sacrificed our seats (by allowing another party to field its candidates). Enough is enough. No compromise (this time),” said Tuan Ibrahim last night.

Muhyiddin, however brushed off the question raised in the press conference, citing this was not the platform to address Tuan Ibrahim’s statement.

“I don’t think this is the forum because this is the statement he made outside. So, I think for the sake of confidentiality and formality, it is better that we discuss when the time is right for us to do so,” he said.

Despite Tuan Ibrahim rejecting his offer to build ties between PAS, DAP and Amanah, Muhyiddin said he is still positive.