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©The
Sun (Used by permission)
by Tan Yi Liang
KUALA LUMPUR (July 23, 2008) : PAS Youth today declared that they "strongly
reject and oppose" any dialogue with Umno that is based on political pacts or
cooperation, and reiterated its commitment to the Pakatan Rakyat.
PAS Central Youth Chief Salahuddin Ayub told a press conference here that they
decided on this stand after a three-hour-long meeting on Tuesday night in the
wake of a disclosure by Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that he
had so far held three meetings with the PAS leaders to talk about Islam and
Malay unity.
PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had called for a stop to the
dialogues or "muzakarah", as it was a ploy by Umno to use PAS for its own agenda
after its dismal performance in the last general election.
Salahuddin however seemed to take the middle road when he said: "Pas, as a party
has never closed any doors of communication with anyone, and we are ready to
have discussions with anyone at anytime in the interests of the nation and the
rakyat. This is a principle of PAS and PAS youth."
Addressing concerns that Umno was trying to get PAS into a political
partnership, Salahuddin said: "PAS Youth would like to reaffirm that PAS must
remain in Pakatan Rakyat, and this is our commitment, and anything that happens
in Pakatan Rakyat is our priority.
"Any effort from anyone to divide, slander or incite division in Pakatan Rakyat
will be strongly opposed by PAS."
He reassured the public that PAS would not join Barisan National, or be involved
in any power-sharing alliance with the ruling coalition.
"I would like to urge the public not to worry, as PAS Youth would make sure that
if there is any dialogue between PAS and Umno, it will not end with PAS leaving
Pakatan Rakyat, or PAS joining or sharing power with Barisan National.
"The rakyat should be confident in the leadership of PAS, for we have received
the mandate from the rakyat after the general elections."
He said they can resolve any problems they may have within the Pakatan without
having to run away from the partnership or "betraying our friends".
He said the muzakarah would be "examined closely" for relevance.
"If these dialogues ever happen, PAS and UMNO should be looked at as separate
entities. Don't label all problems as 'problems of Malay unity', and say that
PAS and Umno have to be united," he said, adding that any such labeling would
cause the public to lose confidence in PAS.
"There are those among the public who would assume if we were together with Umno,
that the PAS leadership had been promised ministerial posts, or top government
jobs. However if we remain clearly separate, we would appear more sincere in
discussing problems being faced by the country," said Salahuddin.
He also denied a statement made by former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd
Khir Toyo that earlier talks between PAS and Umno in Selangor had been derailed
by the influence of Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim.
"There was no need for Anwar Ibrahim. If it was me, I would have disagreed if
that was what they had wanted. If anyone approaches us offering posts, we will
reject them. We have principles. The self-worth of PAS is more than just the
offer of posts," Salahuddin added.
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