Amid fresh overtures, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali played down today the likelihood of a political partnership between Umno and its long-time foe PAS as “impossible” due to their different ideologies.
The former federal lawmaker who has run run for election under both banners also said that while the leaderships of both political parties are keen to cooperate for a bigger Malay Muslim agenda, they may face resistance from within their lower ranks.
“I know both sides and I know the political reality. I have worked with them before. I don’t think a political cooperation between Umno and PAS would happen.
“It would not happen before the next general elections. It is impossible,” he told a press conference after opening Perkasa’s annual general meeting here.
Ibrahim said both PAS and Umno have different political approaches and this would cause them to be at loggerheads with each other on a number of issues, even Islamic matter such as hudud.
“Umno is a nationalist party whereas PAS is an Islamic party. If cooperation is to exist, Islamic issues like hudud need to be supported by Umno.
“Umno is the backbone for Barisan Nasional and I don’t think BN/Umno would sacrifice its long term partners to work with PAS,” he said, with a node to the 13-member coalition in which Umno is a founding member.
Ibrahim also said that the political workings within PAS is not the same as Umno and the Islamist opposition party may face dissent from its grassroots to working together with the party they had broken away from previously.
“It is not easy for PAS leadership to convince its members like in Umno. They have various divisions and not all might agree at lower levels even though the leadership might want it,” he said.
However, Ibrahim also said there may be some common areas where PAS and Umno could work together, such as on Islam and in Kelantan, which is under PAS rule.- themalaymailonline.
