PAS has openly outlined its strategy for the Johor state election, saying its priority is to ensure the state government continues to be led by Malay leadership.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the Islamic party is prepared to support and strengthen any state administration if it helps preserve Malay-Muslim political leadership in Johor. The remarks were made during a press conference after the PN-PAS Grand Finale programme at Laman Muafakat, Bakri, on Wednesday. Political cooperation, he said, would depend on the outcome of the election and the distribution of seats.
According to Abdul Hadi, if Barisan Nasional (BN) secures victory, PAS has no objection to UMNO appointing the Menteri Besar, while the selection of state executive councillors would remain the coalition’s prerogative.
He added that PAS would be willing to complement any weaknesses within the administration, depending on the number of seats won by the party. If BN fails to secure a simple majority or enough seats to form the government independently, PAS could combine its seats with BN to help establish the next state administration.
Abdul Hadi also said PAS has no issue supporting MCA and MIC, provided the position of a Malay-led government is not compromised. He stressed that the party’s main objective is to safeguard Malay-Muslim political leadership while maintaining cooperation with non-Muslim parties that are not considered extreme.
He reiterated that if BN obtains a comfortable majority on its own, PAS would not have any issue with the outcome. The statement reflects the party’s election strategy as political parties continue to position themselves ahead of polling day in Johor.
