Kedah PAS commissioner and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the party also had the right to hold discussions with anyone, including Umno.

He said PAS would not follow the instructions of anyone in its struggle and as such, the DAP, which was its ally in the Pakatan Rakyat, had no right to stop or determine the party’s actions.

“PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat only cooperated as Pakatan Rakyat to face the Barisan Nasional in the general election. (It is) not an alliance like Barisan,” he said.

“ Why must we follow others’ instructions?” Azizan asked.

He said this when asked to comment on DAP national chairman Karpal Singh’s statement that PAS’ participation in Pakatan should be reviewed following its action of having discussions with Umno on Malay unity.

Karpal Singh had said on Sunday that he considered PAS’ actions as being insincere as it raised doubts about its credibility in Pakatan.

The DAP politician's latest statement is seen as a sign of cracks in the Opposition coalition.

Azizan said Karpal Singh had no right to question any of PAS’ actions or ask PAS to refer to the DAP or Pakatan if it wanted to have discussions with Umno.

“Karpal Singh himself has said that it would be over his dead body if Pakatan ever talked to Umno. PAS has done so. Now it is up to him (to take further action),” Azizan said.

He said PAS actually welcomed the efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Umno president, to have the discussions as PAS had long hoped that the noble intention would be realised.

“The story of PAS urging Umno to hold discussions is not new, so there is nothing to be worried about by the parties in Pakatan,” Azizan said. 

- Bernama -