PETALING JAYA: PAS should leave Perikatan Nasional instead of Bersatu since the Islamic party decided to end their political cooperation, says Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu, as a co-founder of PN, has the right to remain a coalition component and cannot be forced to leave, Berita Harian reported.
He added that it was common practice for a party to leave a coalition when it decides to cut ties with the other components, citing PAS’s departure from Pakatan Rakyat and Bersatu’s exit from Pakatan Harapan.
“If you’re dissatisfied with a friend in your ‘house’, you should be the one who leaves the house instead of trying to force your friend to leave. It doesn’t make sense.
“But maybe PAS knows that PN, which I founded, holds value. Therefore, it’s clinging on to PN and trying to make Bersatu leave.
“No one can force Bersatu to leave PN. On the other hand, Bersatu can decide to leave at any time,” the former prime minister said.
PAS ended its political cooperation with Bersatu early last month though both parties remain components of PN.
PN, which is now chaired by PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, later admitted two new components, namely Pejuang and former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin’s new party, Parti Wawasan Negara.
PAS and Bersatu contested under the PN banner in the July 11 Johor polls, but the Islamic party decided against campaigning for its coalition partner. PN ended up being wiped out in Johor.
For the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan election, the PAS-led PN reached a pact with Barisan Nasional. Both coalitions agreed to avoid a clash in the 36 seats up for grabs with BN contesting 25 while PN vies for 11.
Bersatu opposed this pact and decided to contest under its own banner in 24 seats, setting up clashes with PN in eight constituencies.
Bersatu leadership transition ahead
Regardless of the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan polls, Muhyiddin said he will step down as Bersatu president once his term ends next year.
“I have already said this would be my final term as president. So there will be leadership changes to refresh Bersatu and take the party to a higher level,” he said.
At the 2023 Bersatu general assembly, Muhyiddin announced that he would not defend the party presidency. However, he reversed his decision the following day, saying delegates wanted him to stay for another term.
