PAS fears it will be a weak force should PR win

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa admitted yesterday that there were fears among PAS members on the party’s position if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) takes over the government in the 14th general election.

He said this is following the possibility of Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives ditching the colition and jumping over to PR parties, except for Pas, when PR forms the government.

He said this possibility will place PAS as the weakest party among its PR allies.

Keeping this in mind, Husam in his speech, sought guarantee from the PR to maintain its status quo of the Parliament seats contested in the 13th general election.

“This is some of the whispers of concern being spread among PAS members.

“I think if this is our worry, we can seal an agreement with our Pakatan partners that all the seats allocated to Pas in the last general election will remain with the party in future, even after Pakatan forms the government,’’ he said in his opening speech at the 53rd Muktamar Dewan Muslimat PAS in Shah Alam yesterday.

Husam stressed that it is a big responsibility for all PAS members to find ways to win the seats it contested.

“Apart from that, our party should be seen as relevant, not left behind in fighting for people related issues, form ideal leaders and policies beneficial to the people when we are given the trust to administer a state or the nation,’’ he added.

Husam also voiced his concern over the party’s inability to penetrate into Sabah and Sarawak.

‘’Sarawak state election will be held soon and we still have not found an effective formula for both the states,’’ he said.

The two days of PAS' 53rd muktamar began yesterday with the Wanita and Youth wing elections to be held today.

Present at the muktamar were PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, PKR wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and DAP national vice-chairwoman Teresa Kok.