Party matters: Abdul Hadi delivering his winding-up speech at the 70th PAS muktamar.
TEMERLOH: PAS is not keen to discuss renewing ties with Umno because of its president’s court case, says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
The PAS deputy president pointed out that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had not been acquitted of his corruption charges.
He said Ahmad Zahid’s case was different from that of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as the latter’s case is still ongoing in court.
On Sept 4, 2023, Ahmad Zahid was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for 47 charges related to criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
The prosecution told the High Court that the Attorney General wished to scrutinise new evidence.
Tuan Ibrahim was explaining PAS’ lack of interest in discussing with the Umno president on re-establishing cooperation, after the closing of the 70th PAS muktamar in Kerdau here yesterday.
His comments come after his party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement on Saturday that he was still open to cooperating with Umno as had been done previously through Muafakat Nasional.
Abdul Hadi noted that Muafakat, which marks its fifth anniversary this year, was formed without the involvement of Ahmad Zahid, who was on leave at the time.
The latter had taken garden leave as president in December 2018 due to internal turmoil in Umno and his pending court case. He returned to helm the party in June 2019.
In response to Abdul Hadi’s statement, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said he was not interested in engaging in negotiations that bypass Ahmad Zahid or create discord among Umno members.
“Umno has its own leader who guides the party, and if PAS intends to establish any form of cooperation, it should discuss and negotiate with our president.
“This is because Umno places the institution of the president at the forefront to determine the party’s direction,” Wan Rosdy, who is also Pahang Mentri Besar, said in a statement yesterday.
On another matter, Tuan Ibrahim also said PAS would retain its oath of loyalty, or bai’ah, even after amending its constitution to include anti-party hopping regulations.
Bai’ah, he said, would strengthen the new regulations by controlling party members in a spiritual manner.
“The regulations are physical. Bai’ah will instil a sense of fear. It is spiritual as it ties our candidates to their responsibility to the people who vote for them,” he added.
Bai’ah is commonly recited by PAS members to discourage them from betraying the party.
During the assembly, PAS passed an amendment to its constitution to include anti-party hopping regulations, resulting in the cessation of membership for any PAS elected representative who switches allegiance to another party or coalition that does not include PAS as a component.
