PAS' Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar brushed aside his party's announcement that he would be dropped as a candidate in the 14th general election for his friendly ties with Pakatan Harapan.

Mahfuz said even if he was allowed to contest under PAS, he wouldn't have accepted it under the current circumstances.

"I would like to say thank you for not nominating me because even if PAS nominated me, I will not accept it because I will be seen betraying the people," he told Malaysiakini today.

Mahfuz said PAS' current strategy would only help BN win and he did not want to be part of that.

"I would reject PAS if it nominated me. If I become a candidate (of a party) that only wants 40 parliamentary seats, it will help BN remain in power," he said.

PAS has indicated that it is aiming to win 40 parliamentary seats on its own.

PKR and Bersatu's attempts to negotiate a pact with PAS have thus far failed.

PAS has insisted it cannot work with PKR or Bersatu as long as they are allied with DAP and Amanah under Harapan.

Mahfuz was coy when asked whether he would contest under Amanah's ticket in the next general election.

"That question does not arise today," he said.

Yesterday, Mahfuz was present at Amanah's second national convention in Kedah.

He was joined by three other PAS assemblypersons, namely Amiruddin Hamzah (Anak Bukit) Mohd Nasir Mustafa (Rotan) and Syed Azman Syed Nawawi (Batu Burok).

This prompted PAS leaders, including its vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, to publicly declare that Mahfuz would be dropped by the party in the next general election.