Pas not the ‘big brother’ in PN, Tuan Ibrahim says

SHAH ALAM – There is no such thing as Pas wanting to be the ‘big brother’ and dominate decision-making power in Perikatan Nasional (PN) following the influence of Bersatu, which is said to be fading because its leader is now among the court cluster gang.

Pas Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that all component parties always collaborate and make consensus decisions.

“All component parties, whether Pas, Bersatu, or Gerakan, always move on the same track and every PN policy decision is made by consensus with the agreement of all parties.

“Every decision is made through a meeting at the respective party level before being brought to the highest level of PN and finalised.

“This perception and attack (on Pas trying to dominate PN) happened because three of the six states involved in state elections are now dominated by Pas as menteri besar compared to other parties in PN,” he told Sinar Premium.

The former Environment and Water Minister and the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (DUN) opposition leader said this when commenting on claims that Pas is now the ‘big brother’ or kingmaker in PN following many Bersatu leaders, including Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, being embroiled in court cases.

Also in line is former Bersatu Bertam State Assembly Member Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq who said that people see Pas as more dominant in PN because the party had more parliamentary seats than Bersatu and Gerakan.

“However, in PN there is no dominant party or party considered as ‘big brother’.

“All the component parties of PN, namely Bersatu, Pas, and Gerakan have always worked closely together, despite the various accusations and slander thrown at them by certain parties.

“We will continue to maintain this close relationship and cooperation in the run-up to the next state polls,” he added.

Meanwhile, political analyst from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Dr Mazlan Ali was of the view that the relationship between the two parties was said to be increasingly strained because Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Muhyiddin as Bersatu President and PN Chairman were rarely seen attending programmes or held joint press conferences.

Mazlan said that the most significant was when the eighth former Prime Minister did not participate when Hadi paid a courtesy visit and signed the Proclamation of the Malay Nation at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s residence.

Hadi, also the Marang MP, was also said not to attend the open house organised by Bersatu and Muhyiddin in the capital recently.

This situation showed that Pas was now moving solo, and PN’s policy decisions also indicated that they made decisions based on the party’s own interests; for example, the effort to support the Proclamation of the Malay Nation, which had a big impact on national politics.

Mazlan added that the number of Pas MPs was greater than that of Bersatu, which was why they were often seen to be ahead of other PN-allied parties on various current issues.

“The situation has created a perception among the people that Pas is now more forward, dominant and is leading its own course, leaving Bersatu and Gerakan.

“Hadi also often disappoints Gerakan when he raises various issues of non-Malay interests. This shows that Pas is now acting alone in PN,” remarked Mazlan.