IPR’s survival depends on stable PN, says PAS treasurer

PETALING JAYA: The survival of loose alliance Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) hinges on the stability of Perikatan Nasional (PN), says PAS treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad, amid calls for the party to prioritise the people’s interests in resolving the opposition bloc’s internal crisis.

Commenting on a statement by Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) president P Waytha Moorthy yesterday, Iskandar said he understood the concerns raised, as PN’s stability is crucial to the future of IPR.

“To ensure PN remains stable, all parties must respect the new leadership under PAS as well as PAS’s position as the core party with the largest machinery and membership base.

“Without mutual respect, stability cannot be achieved,” he told FMT.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Waytha appealed to all parties within PN, especially the PAS leadership, to continue prioritising unity and the interests of the people.

His remarks came after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced that PAS was reassessing its ties with Bersatu with a view of possibly contesting the next general election (GE16) without the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party.

Hadi cited several issues that strained relations, including the change of Perlis menteri besar and Bersatu’s opposition to admitting new Malay-Muslim parties into PN, warning that “patience has its limits”.

Led by Muhyiddin, IPR comprises 11 opposition parties, including PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan, Muda, Berjasa, Pejuang and Putra.

The others are MAP, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman), and Urimai.

However, the absence of PAS representatives from recent IPR meetings has raised questions over its continued participation in the coalition.

In March, Muhyiddin said the IPR alliance must evolve into a “more meaningful relationship” among like-minded parties to remain relevant ahead of the next general election.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today