PAS backs UMNO in Johor polls, sparking coalition questions

PAS has sparked attention by supporting UMNO in Johor, even while remaining within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition alongside Bersatu. This move raises questions about PN's future and fuels speculation about new political alignments ahead of the general election.

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Our goal is no Pakatan Harapan (PH). That means today in the Johor situation, we must protect it, meaning we want to block PH.

PAS Vice President Datuk Idris Ahmad addressed critical public concerns in an interview. He discussed PAS's relationships with UMNO and Bersatu, the possibility of reviving the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact, and the party's strategy for a hung parliament scenario. Ahmad also clarified PAS's stance on new parties joining PN and the coalition's direction if Bersatu were to leave.

Regarding the Johor state election, Ahmad stated PAS's primary objective is to prevent Pakatan Harapan (PH) from winning. "Our goal is no Pakatan Harapan (PH)," he said. "That means today in the Johor situation, we must protect it, meaning we want to block PH." He clarified that PAS has not promised positions like becoming Exco members, emphasizing that the sole aim is to block PH. Cooperation with UMNO/BN, he added, would depend on the situation after the election results.

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It is not that we condone just like that, it is that they were unpayable loans due to the way they were structured.

When asked about potential offers from UMNO, Ahmad denied any discussions, reiterating that the focus was solely on ensuring PH did not gain power in Johor. He also addressed the complex situation within PN, particularly concerning Bersatu. While PAS and Bersatu have separated in their cooperation, they remain part of the PN coalition for election symbol usage. Ahmad acknowledged the peculiarity of this arrangement but stated that the focus is on upcoming state and general elections. He welcomed the participation of parties like Pejuang and Wawasan, seeing it as a strength for PN, provided they share similar ideologies and narratives.

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Before, there were governments that took away, and now we are governments that give to the people.

Ahmad also commented on Bersatu's influence within PN, suggesting that in a coalition, the majority's voice, views, and shared narrative should be heard. He affirmed that PAS does not prevent others from speaking and that the coalition operates under its own constitution and order. He did not commit to whether PAS would support UMNO/BN in other upcoming state elections, such as in Negeri Sembilan, beyond the stated goal of blocking PH.

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