PAS trying to cause rift in Pakatan, say DAP leaders

PETALING JAYA: Several DAP leaders say PAS is targeting the party with its new slogan of “Islamic sovereignty” just to cause a rift in Pakatan Harapan.

They were responding to a suggestion by PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Aziz that the party would work with Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia with the ultimate aim of thwarting DAP.

DAP deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok described the suggestion as “farcical and far-fetched”.

“Clearly, Nik Abduh’s using of Islamic sovereignty as a basis is a feeble attempt to drive a racial and religious wedge among Pakatan component parties,” she said when contacted yesterday.

Kok, who is Primary Industries Minister, said Nik Abduh was trying to deflect the issue surrounding the Malaysian- Anti Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigations into claims that PAS took money linked with 1MDB.

“It is obvious PAS knows it is in deep trouble over the RM90mil fiasco and is going all out to deflect attention on the issue,” she added.

DAP deputy secretary-general Nga Kor Ming said PAS had already lost its credibility following Nik Abduh’s admission that he was asked to lie by his own leaders.

“For a party which said lying is halal, the people can easily judge their credibility now,” he said.

The Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker echoed the view that PAS was trying to shift the focus from the MACC investigations.

DAP central executive committee member Ronnie Liu said Nik Abduh was trying to make DAP a target within the Pakatan coalition.

“By playing the racial card, PAS views DAP as an easy target in Pakatan although we have long been a multiracial party,” he said, describing Nik Abduh’s suggestion as a “fictional creation”. He was caught lying and exposed that his own colleagues told him to lie. So it is now natural for him to try to divert attention away from himself,” the former Selangor exco member added.

Nik Abduh, who is the Bachok MP and son of PAS’ late spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, posted the following on his Facebook page on Feb 18: “Whatever PAS’ move is, it is to stop DAP. It is about the issue of Islamic sovereignty. If PAS, Umno and Bersatu work together, what’s the issue?”

Earlier on Feb 13, he claimed that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang gave his “blessings” for him to lie on whether it was his voice in an audio recording in which he admitted that PAS had received millions of ringgit from Umno.