PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has expressed gratitude for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's recent revelations of his party's electoral goals.

When met by reporters in Shah Alam today, Saifuddin noted that Abdul Hadi had apparently denied having made some of those statements, but thanked him anyway.

"So I don't know which is which. But if it is true that he said it, I want to say thank you.

"Because this would show PAS' true intentions in relations to how PAS positions itself in the upcoming general election," said Saifuddin.

In a video clip circulating online, Abdul Hadi is recorded saying PAS' goal was to win 40 parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections.

This number would make them attractive to any party which wants to form the federal government.

In the speech recorded in Terengganu, Abdul Hadi also appeared to adopt a reconciliatory tone in addressing Umno, urging PAS members to stop condemning their rival.

He said Umno now wanted to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 and it needed PAS to do so, describing their cooperation as "political maturity" and that it was needed to ensure that Islam is dominant politically.

"So as for Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Selangor, let PAS lead. Other states, if Umno wants them, let them be.

"If we can (PAS) wants it all... but we have to be aware of our ability. This is why we need cooperation to ensure Islam remains dominant politically," Abdul Hadi was recorded as saying.

Proof of likely Umno-PAS collusion

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) lawmaker Raja Kamarul Bahrin said Hadi’s remarks shows there is high probablity of a co-operation between Umno and PAS, despite denials from both parties.

This, said the former PAS leader, must be relayed to the public, especially to PAS members.

“I think this is unhealthy. And something like the bill to amend Act 355 needs the involvement of all PAS members,” he stressed.

Johor DAP publicity assistant secretary Sheikh Omar Ali also condened Hadi's "inconsistency" having once labelled Umno members as kafir (unbelievers).

“That’s Hadi […] Maybe before he thought Umno is kafir and now no longer. Just like his statement on the five states. Now he says something contradictory (to deny it)," he said.

He also claimed the inconsistencies had also marred PAS' dealings with the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

"When he mentions three, four or five states, and which portion he will let Umno lead, this shows PAS is inconsistent and has no intention to change the Umno/BN government at federal level, or the bad policies under Umno, BN and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"He wants to lead states but he has no will to change the (federal) government so better policies can be implemented for the rakyat," he said.