Muhyiddin: PAS stronger with PN rather than going solo

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin believes that PAS is stronger as a component party in the coalition as opposed to going solo as in the past.

The Bersatu president said this after comparing the Islamist party's performance in the last general election before forming a coalition with Bersatu and Gerakan.

“PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan see this as a strength. They can't be alone... they can but the effect is not like this (a big win), for example, in the last general election their majority was usually 10,000 to 15,000 votes but (PAS president Abdul) Hadi (Awang) won by over 40,000 votes (in Maran).

"PAS has reached saturation level but with the PN coalition the people's acceptance is so great that he recorded an extraordinary majority," Muhyiddin told news portal Free Malaysia Today.

‘PAS is wise’

The Pagoh MP also said that PAS will not leave the PN coalition despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's statement that he had invited the Islamic party to join the unity government.

"As far as I know, it will not (happen) because PAS is also wise. It knows that no political party can fight alone, solo and form a government.

"Bersatu alone is not capable of forming a government, neither is PAS even if it wins with bigger majorities. In fact, they are an older party than us," he said.

He added that any cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and PAS will not succeed because the two are not on the same page in terms of ideology and different religious beliefs.

Previously, Anwar said when he was sworn in as prime minister of a unity government last year, he offered PAS to join the government.

Although PAS rejected the offer at the time, Anwar said he would not rule out the collaboration in the future.

In the last general election, PAS won 43 parliamentary seats, almost all were Malay majority seats.

In addition, the party also captured Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in what was described as a 'Green Wave' by domestic political analysts.

Smooth Bersatu transition

Muhyiddin also spoke about the need for a smooth transition in the Bersatu leadership when the time comes.

He said that if there were to be a contest, it could divide the party into camps, like what occurred in Umno.

“There is a possibility we will discuss a line-up that would be accepted by all,” he said while declining to name a possible successor.

Bersatu supreme council member Eddin Syazlee Shith reportedly said a reshuffle was needed to fill a “void” in the party, speaking in the aftermath of four rogue Bersatu MPs announcing their support for the government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Muhyiddin said that there are many potential leaders with decades of experience, but who have yet to be given an opportunity, adding that some of them could be a deputy prime minister.

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COMMENT | It’s over, Muhyiddin!