Bersatu veep claims PAS yet to prepare PN for Johor polls

Fresh from its divorce from PAS, Bersatu has said it will move ahead in the upcoming Johor state election with other Perikatan Nasional components and smaller parties under the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat coalition.

According to Berita Harian, Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu claimed that PN, led by PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, has yet to convene a meeting to prepare election machinery for the Johor polls, even though more than two weeks have passed since the state assembly was dissolved.

“Bersatu has already mobilised its machinery. In fact, our secretary-general, Azmin Ali, has begun touring Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

“We are moving together with other component parties, and if PN continues to hesitate and fails to make a decision, thereby giving room to the opposition, that is their way of doing things.

“We cannot wait for others,” Faizal (above) was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

On June 13, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang stressed that his party’s relationship with Bersatu has effectively ended, and that the decision on whether the latter wants to remain in PN rests with Muhyiddin Yassin.

Hadi said PAS has also agreed to the entry of Parti Wawasan Negara led by former Bersatu deputy president, Hamzah Zainudin, into PN.

In Johor, Faizal claimed that Bersatu had already begun discussions and mobilisation efforts with parties such as Muda and Pejuang.

Yesterday, Muda and PSM announced that the two parties will work together in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections as part of a “progressive bloc” to offer voters in both states a platform built on progressive policies.

However, Malaysiakini understands that Muda in Johor is in discussions with Bersatu to avoid seat clashes.

Termination benefits

Separately, Berita Harian quoted PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as saying that the termination of political cooperation with Bersatu had its own benefits, as it created greater room for other parties to join the opposition bloc.

He also described a broader cooperation with other political parties, starting with Wawasan Negara, dubbed the “PN+” agenda.

“We are opening the door to cooperation with everyone to ensure the opposition speaks with one voice in facing Pakatan Harapan in the next general election.

“What is most important is that all parties in the coalition are bound by a common position in elections and political mobilisation,” he reportedly said.

Among others, Tuan Ibrahim said PN will reconsider official membership applications from smaller Malay-Muslim parties such as Berjasa and Pejuang.

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