Pas denies splitting with Bersatu, PN

SHAH ALAM - Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man denies claims that the party will split with the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) soon.

Tuan Ibrahim stressed that there was no question of Pas leaving Bersatu and expressed support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.

The Kubang Kerian Member of Parliament said that the rumours were deliberately spread by irresponsible parties to strain the close relationship between Pas and Bersatu ahead of the Parliamentary by-elections in Kemaman.

"There is no truth to it, and there have been no discussions on this issue (the proposal for Pas to leave PN and join the unity government led by the Prime Minister)," he told Sinar Premium.

Tuan Ibrahim made these remarks when asked about the rumours suggesting that Pas would join the unity government.

These rumours resurfaced following Pas' decision to nominate its deputy president, who is also the Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as the candidate for the Kemaman Parliamentary by-election tomorrow.

Many political observers interpret this decision as one of Pas's political strategies to nominate Samsuri as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the PN coalition in the 16th General Election (GE16).