PAS says it is ready to support BN in forming the Johor government if the coalition falls short of a majority, with cooperation based on mutual trust.
MUAR: PAS is prepared to support Barisan Nasional (BN) in forming the Johor government if the coalition wins the state election but falls short of a simple majority, said party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Hadi said any cooperation would depend on discussions “from the heart”, stressing that formal guarantees, signed agreements or oaths would carry little meaning without mutual understanding between the parties.
“There are no guarantees. What matters is a commitment that comes from the heart. Even if one takes an oath, without sincerity it means nothing. It must be genuine. PAS is sincere in wanting to help,” he told reporters after attending Perikatan Nasional’s grand finale programme last night.
He said that if BN won Johor, it would have the right to appoint the menteri besar and state executive council members, but PAS could step in to provide support if BN lacked enough seats to form the government.
“If there are weaknesses, PAS can provide support, depending on the number of seats we win. It may only be a simple majority, not a two-thirds majority. If they do not have enough, PAS can support,” he said.
Hadi said the priority was to ensure political power remained with Malay-Muslim parties, as well as non-Muslim parties that were not “extreme”, citing BN component parties as examples.
“What is important is Malay-Muslim political power and non-Muslims who are not extreme. If MCA wins, MIC wins and Umno wins enough seats, then there will be no problem,” he said.
Earlier, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party had declared its support for BN in Johor state constituencies where Perikatan Nasional (PN) was not contesting.
However, he urged voters to support PN in seats contested by the coalition, saying it remained the better choice for those seeking to reject Pakatan Harapan, particularly DAP.
