Umno cooperation: Pas wants to move forward with PN - Idris

SHAH ALAM - The cooperation between Umno and Pas through Muafakat Nasional (MN) which is not discussed in the Pas Muktamar shows that the party is moving forward in working under its new coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Pas vice-president Datuk Seri Idris Ahmad said there have been no discussions among the leadership regarding cooperation with Umno so far.

Instead, he made it clear that the focus was currently on strengthening cooperation with parties within PN.

"Right now, we are moving forward with PN, with a larger unity of the ummah.

"We will empower our party and if we want to cooperate with Umno, we will discuss about it later," he said during a press conference at the 69th Pas Muktamar, here, today.

Idris said there were no differences in treatment given by Pas to the non-Malays under its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and during the time of the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat as the mursyidul am.

He said the comparisons raised were an effort by certain parties especially DAP who wanted to show that Pas was an Islamist party which was unfair and extreme.

"There is no difference in treatment.The same approach was used, even during the time of Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

"We have always spoken about Islam for all and that has been proven.

"When Haji Hadi became Terengganu Menteri Besar in 1999, he also provided justice to non-Malays in Terengganu.

"Demographically, the non-Muslim population in Terengganu is smaller than in Kelantan, but we provided justice to all.

"We also know that lately, non-Malays have not been supporting us, but we continue to serve and as leaders in the government, we provide justice.

"We assist the poor, even if they do not support us," he said.