Based on records, Lim Kit Siang has pointed out that PAS could only muster big wins in the polls if it worked with other main opposition parties or is a member of a coalition.

The DAP veteran said records showed that when PAS battled on its own, it could only win 13 or less parliamentary seats.

In contrast, Lim said PAS won the most number of seats when it cooperated with other opposition parties, including DAP.

"In Malaysian electoral history since the 1959 general election, the most number of parliamentary seats PAS could win when it fought on its own were 13 seats.

"PAS won the most number of parliamentary seats in the 1999, 2008 and 2013 general elections, when PAS was part of Barisan Alternatif in 1999, avoided multi-cornered contests with DAP and PKR in 2008 and was a member of Pakatan Rakyat in 2013," he added in a statement today.

 

Lim said the 14th general election, which could possibly be held in September, would be an opportunity for Malaysians to eradicate kleptocracy.

However, Lim said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang appears to have a different agenda.

"He is not concerned that Malaysia is becoming a global kleptocracy, or the curse of the culture of kleptocracy which has caused government institutions, like Felda and Mara, to become kleptocratic institutions betraying the founding Felda and Mara objectives," he claimed.

Lim noted that Hadi had stated that he was looking for PAS to win five states and 40 parliamentary seats in the next general election in order to become a kingmaker.

However, the veteran politician said with its current course, PAS might have other things to be concerned about.

"There are those who think that far from winning five state governments in the 14th general election, the issue confronting PAS is whether they could retain the Kelantan government, now that the popular PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is no more.

"Electoral analysts have told me that the best-scenario for PAS fighting on its own is to win some 30 seats while its worst scenario is to be reduced to single-digit representation in Parliament - neither of which would give PAS a 'kingmaker' role to determine who is to form the next federal government," he added.

Lim said this might change if Umno is prepared to concede a substantial number of parliamentary seats to PAS.