PAS had thrown its lot with Umno in the Sungai Kandis by-election as an experiment to gauge whether its members would back a cooperation between the two parties, said Youth vice-chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

Nevertheless, he said it turned out that PAS members were unwilling to vote for BN despite calls from the party leadership to do so.

“By-elections is the place for experimentation, and we have shown our honesty and sincerity. PAS leaders have wagered their reputation by giving direct or indirect orders so that 7,000 PAS voters would vote for BN to ensure Pakatan Harapan’s defeat.

“ Clearly, the people who voted for PAS could not bring themselves to vote for Umno,” he said in a speech officiating the Federal Territories PAS Youth annual muktamar in Kuala Lumpur today.

In the Sungai Kandis by-election yesterday, the Harapan candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni had garnered 15,427 votes, defeating BN candidate Lokman Noor Adam (9,585 votes) and independent candidate K Murthy (97 votes).

PAS was initially coy about their stance towards Harapan during the election campaign, but several senior PAS leaders openly urged PAS supporters to vote for Lokman as the polling day drew near.

PAS Ulama wing treasurer Khairuddin Aman Razali, for example, had openly called upon PAS supporters in Sungai Kandis to vote for Lokman on grounds that Harapan does not champion Islam.

Khairuddin said PAS members have no choice but to vote BN, but stressed that the party’s relations with Umno are merely a strategic partnership.

In the 14th general election, PAS had garnered 7,573 votes in Sungai Kandis, but did not contest in yesterday’s by-election.

As for the looming Seri Setia by-election, Ahmad Fadhli said the by-election will set the stage for a new experiment to see whether BN supporters would vote for PAS.

“If that happens, then PAS could build a new perception whereby if one desires Malays and Islam to win, opposition parties should make way for PAS to contest in the (next) general election.

“The Sungai Kandis strategy had passed. PAS had issued orders to support Umno, but our 7,000 voters is not a movable asset. This asset will not move.

“The next experiment is in Seri Setia, with PAS contesting and Umno not contesting,” he said.

The Pasir Mas MP said that in coming negotiations with Umno, PAS would stress that Umno supporters should lend their support to PAS.

Ahmad Fadhli also urged members to remain loyal to the party’s cause despite disappointment towards the party leadership’s decisions, including the order to vote for BN in Sungai Kandis.

He said PAS members should take decisions of the party leadership in good faith.

“I have come here so that you understand the party leadership’s strategy.

“Don’t let it cross your mind that party leaders did this because they got kickbacks, (and then) put on Facebook that we’re working with Umno because we could get money […]

“Although it may appear that they are building consensus with our former enemies, this is not for a personal reason,” he said.