PAS eyes taking over Putrajaya through ties with BN

Cooperation with Barisan Nasional and Umno can help pave the way for PAS to take over the federal government, the Islamic party’s deputy president, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said last night.

He said the party was confident its cooperation with its strategic partners would be mutually beneficial in their efforts to take over Putrajaya.

“God willing, our cooperation with strategic partners, including Umno and Barisan Nasional, will benefit us collectively, and (we can) take over Putrajaya,” he said at a ceramah in Kota Bharu to mark the party’s 75th anniversary.

Tuan Ibrahim said more political parties were approaching PAS with a view towards cooperation

He added that PAS welcomed such overtures, but the party would not compromise on its principles simply to win elections or take over Putrajaya.

Hadi on taking more states with Umno

At the same ceramah, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said closer ties with Umno could help the party win more states.

He said last month’s victory by the BN-Perikatan Nasional alliance in Negeri Sembilan had eased political tensions nationwide, with Umno increasingly engaging with PAS.

He said many voters were surprised that PAS had managed to persuade its supporters to work with Umno.

“If we become stronger and work more closely with Umno, we can take over more states,” he said.

However, Hadi stressed that only a strong government could withstand attempts to topple it.

Hadi cited Kelantan as an example of the importance of strong public support, saying that the PAS-led state government had remained in power for 36 years despite facing political pressure.