PAS: Our fight in Kelantan is with Umno, none other

KOTA BARU: The real fight in Kelantan will be between Umno and PAS at the 14th General Election, says the Islamist party.

Saying that Pakatan Harapan was irrelevant in the state, Kelantan PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (pic) said his party could retain control by at least a simple majority.

PAS, he said, stood a fighting chance of winning favourably in multi-cornered fights but that it preferred to stick to conservative figures to avoid being over-confident.

“Pakatan Harapan is irrelevant in Kelantan. The real fight will be between PAS and Umno as usual.

“Since 1955, our only formidable opponent is Umno. Other parties came and went but Umno consistently remains our formidable opponent (except in 1974 when PAS joined forces with Barisan to fight against Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia).

“Umno’s vote will be split further if PPBM (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) gains ground in Kelantan,” Ahmad Fadhli said.

PAS, which used to be in Pakatan Rakyat with DAP and PKR, would be contesting against Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional at the next polls.

The party, added Ahmad Fadhli, did not view either PKR or its splinter party, Parti Amanah Negara, as a threat in Kelantan.

In the 13th General Election, PAS won nine out of the 14 parliamentary seats in the state while Umno clinched five.

Subsequently, two PAS MPs crossed over to Parti Amanah Negara and PKR.

Of the 45 state seats, PAS won 32, followed by Umno (12) and PKR (one). PAS “lost” the Salor state seat after it sacked incumbent elected representative Datuk Husam Musa last year.

On the possibility of Umno and PAS joining forces to avoid a split among the Malay voters, Ahmad Fadhli said such major decisions could only be finalised during the annual muktamar.

“But we are confident the majority of delegates will reject proposals to forge an alliance with Umno.

“Many PAS members and supporters are of the view that Umno or Barisan no longer qualifies to govern,” he said.