Pas urged to make Muslim unity its top political priority

Political unity among Muslim parties should become Pas’s main agenda, a Kelantan delegate told the party’s 72nd general assembly in Kota Bharu. Mohd. Asri Mat Daud said cooperation would help strengthen Pas and widen its influence across Malaysia.

He urged the party to pursue political cooperation, whether through ta’awun siyasi or tahaluf siyasi arrangements with allied Islamic parties. Such efforts, he said, should avoid division and confrontation.

Mohd. Asri drew on Pas’s history of political alliances. He cited the party’s cooperation with Perikatan in 1972, 1973 and 1974, as well as its participation in elections under the Barisan Nasional ticket. After Pas was removed from the coalition in 1977, it remained in opposition in Kelantan until 1989.

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Efforts to unite the ummah through political cooperation, whether under the name ta’awun siyasi or tahaluf siyasi with allied Islamic parties, must be made a priority while avoiding any elements of division and confrontation.

He said Pas later rebuilt its alliances through Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah with Semangat 46, Berjasa and Hamim. He credited that cooperation with Pas’s victories and its ability to govern, including its gains in Kelantan and later advances in Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

He also cited the party’s work with Barisan Alternatif and Pakatan Rakyat, including its capture of Terengganu in 1999 and five states in 2008. Recent developments in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, he said, showed that political cooperation continued to expand Pas’s strength.

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As a result of the cooperation, we won. We were able to govern the state.