'Even PM post cannot tempt us'

PAS will not turn its back on principles even if Umno offered the Islamic opposition party the prime minister's position.

Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub drove this point home during a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

"We will definitely oppose anyone who tempt us into accepting positions because we belong to a principled party," he said.

Salahuddin stressed that PAS is governed by values and a strong mandate from voters.

"We are not interested in any of their (Umno) offerings even if they offer me the post of prime minister," he said.

"(If) We accept this (the positions) today, in future the coming generations will curse, hate and no longer respect us," he added.

No need for Anwar's intervention

Salahuddin was commenting on the statement by former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo that Umno had offered PAS the menteri besar position if the party agreed to form a joint government to rule the state.

The offer was made during a top-level muzakarah (dialogue) right after the March 8 elections which saw Selangor and three other states fall into the hands of the opposition.

Khir claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had ' blocked ' the possibility of an Umno-PAS collaboration.

Responding to this, Salahuddin said: "There is no need for Anwar Ibrahim, even I will not agree (to power sharing)."

"In the case of muzakarah (dialogue) with Umno, PAS Youth will reject any form of discussions focusing on Pakatan Rakyat's affairs or political cooperation with Umno"

He said this was the Youth wing's collective resolution after a three-hour meeting at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The PAS Youth leader explained that the wing is not opposed to dialogues with Umno on issues of national importance.

On Sunday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang revealed that top-level meetings were taking place between the two parties.

However, not all PAS leaders agree with the talks, which are said to centre on issues concerning Islam and the Malays.

Even the party's spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat disapproved of any collaboration between the Islamic party and its arch rival.

It is believed that there is a group within PAS which is more favourable to having greater engagement with Umno.

Committed to Pakatan Rakyat

Meanwhile, Salahuddin stressed that PAS has an unyielding commitment to Pakatan Rakyat and nothing can drive the opposition coalition apart.

"At this moment, Pakatan Rakyat is the only alternative to Barisan Nasional. We are committed to our coalition and I am strongly against efforts to break us apart," he said.

Salahuddin said that the people have nothing to fear about the PAS and Umno meetings.

"Even if PAS was to have a muzakarah (dialogue) session with Umno, it will not end with PAS leaving Pakatan to join BN," he added.

When quizzed on the agenda of the previous meetings between PAS and Umno, Salahuddin revealed that no specifics were discussed during the dialogue sessions.

"We agreed to listen to what they had to say. We are not arrogant just because we won this time around.

"If they go on with muzakarah (in future), the youth committee will look into the outline of the meeting and object to whatever we find irrelevant, especially on power sharing," he said.

Salahuddin added that PAS and Umno must stay true to their respective political ideologies.

"Although PAS and Umno may be discussing Malay unity and solidarity, we don't have to be in the same boat. We should stay true to our struggles."