Hadi: PAS to stick with Pakatan

BATU PAHAT: PAS will remain in Pakatan Rakyat as long as the other parties in the coalition do not breach its objectives.
Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the tahaaluf siyasi (political cooperation) among PAS, PKR and DAP should be on condition that it does not put the Islamist party in an unbeneficial situation.
"With the tahaaluf conditions made by PAS Syura Ulama Council, it will continue its istiqamah (stay in the path) of tahaaluf siyasi with PR as long as it does not breach any conditions agreed upon (before joining PR)," he said at the opening of PAS's 60th muktamar (general meeting) today.
"The tahaaluf must be made in a manner to strengthen the party, and not otherwise. It will be really unfortunate if the tahaaluf gives room for others to weaken and break us apart," he said.
He also reminded party members to adhere to the party's stand although the political cooperation involved parties with differing opinions.
"Political cooperation does not mean that we have to adapt to a different system, to the point that we lose our principles and core values," he said.
"We have never betrayed our tahaaluf friends, therefore we hope that they will also not betray us," he added.
PAS's position in Pakatan has been in question following the party leadership's disagreement with PKR and DAP on the Selangor mentri besar issue.
Hadi said he is confident that the relationship among the three parties would be restored.
He said it is normal to have differing opinions in a coalition, but the way to solve the problem is what matters most.
"Even PAS has internal problems, but we've always managed to settle the problem," Hadi said in a press conference after the muktamar.
On another issue, Hadi denied that PAS is seeking cooperation with Umno and Barisan Nasional following a series of disagreements between the party and the other top PR leaderships.
I would like to stress that rumours regarding PAS teaming up with Umno is a lie spread by those who wanted to see the breaking up of Pakatan, he said.