Pahang Bersatu chief denies plans to join PAS

Pahang Bersatu chief Abdul Khalib Abdullah has denied rumours that he is leaving the party to join PAS.

The Rompin MP said the allegations were deliberately spread to create a negative perception and damage the close relationship between Bersatu and PAS in the state.

According to him, the rumours stemmed from a speech of his that was misquoted and sensationalised.

“From there, they assumed I wanted to leave Bersatu and join PAS, when in fact my tone was merely joking,” he told Malaysiakini.

“There is no issue of my wanting to leave the party. Pahang Bersatu is in a state of peace and harmony,” he added.

Khalib was commenting on a Pahangku Media Facebook post, which referenced excerpts from his speech during the 40th anniversary celebration of Rompin PAS last Friday.

The post alleged that he was seeking a safe way out as Pahang Bersatu was becoming weaker, facing financial difficulties, as well as a lack of machinery and grassroots support.

The page published the following part of Khalib’s reported speech:

“It’s normal - sometimes Bersatu meetings are like this, PAS meetings are like that. But there’s no problem, Datuk, (turning towards PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah)... If things get too hard for me, I’ll join PAS.”

Expanding further, Khalib said PAS and Bersatu are busy strategising to win in the state in the upcoming general election.

“We have already met four times and are now focused on working with PAS to make the ‘Hogoh Jelai 30K’ programme a success.

“If I were to leave the party, perhaps I’d say I wanted to join Umno - that would be correct.

“But we remain loyal with PAS as part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition, so the issue of party-hopping should not even arise,” he added.

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