PAS does not think that it should be blamed for creating three-cornered fights among them, Pakatan Harapan and BN in the upcoming general election.

This is because PAS was merely contesting its traditional seats and it was other parties who had declared about contesting in the constituencies, said PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan.

Admitting that all quarters could agree to one-to-one fights, Nasrudin said the country’s current political scenario does not seem to permit this.

He cited the Semantan state seat which was contested and won by a PAS candidate. The PAS state assemblyperson, however, later left to join Parti Amanah Negara.

“It’s PAS’ constituency but sadly, Amanah too wants to contest in this seat,” he said in a press conference at PAS’ headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

As PAS does not have political cooperation with Pakatan Harapan, Nasrudin said the party was free to contest its previous seats including Permatang Pauh.

The Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency had been contested by PKR since 2003.

PAS on July 19 had launched its machinery in Permatang Pauh. The party’s vice-president Idris Ahmad refuted PKR’s claim that the move was a form of provocation.

Meanwhile, Nasrudin said the Islamist party has yet to finalise the issue of seat arrangement but said that the process will be “finalised soon.”

On another matter, asked on the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Memali tragedy, Nasrudin said the party was consistent in its formation to ensure that justice will be served to the families of the victims.

PAS, he said, will give its full cooperation and witnesses who are still alive must be called for their statements on the tragedy which occurred over thirty years ago.

“PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang once asked to be given one hour of television airtime to explain the real meaning behind his amanat (speech) and we are not afraid to continue pushing for the formation of this RCI,” added Nasrudin.