Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) has questioned why PAS is defending UMNO so strongly in its ongoing political dispute with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), after PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man accused PKR of relying on UMNO’s strength.
AMK information chief Danish Hairudin said Tuan Ibrahim’s remarks raised questions over whether PAS had now taken on the role of an unofficial “spokesperson” for UMNO.
“I am rather puzzled by the statement from PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who is so determined to defend UMNO that he claims PKR is relying on UMNO’s strength,” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“Since when was PAS appointed as UMNO’s spokesperson? Or does PAS now believe it is bigger than UMNO and can speak on behalf of the party?” he asked.
Tuan Ibrahim had earlier said PKR should not issue an ultimatum to UMNO over whether to remain in the Madani Government or switch its support to Perikatan Nasional (PN), arguing that PKR itself depended on UMNO’s strength.
He also said PKR should consider its position and number of parliamentary seats before issuing warnings against a fellow government party.
Danish, however, said that if parliamentary seat numbers were being used as a measure of political strength, the results of the 15th General Election showed PKR winning 31 seats compared with UMNO’s 26.
Even after three PKR MPs vacated their seats, he said, the party still had 28 parliamentary seats, compared with UMNO’s 26.
“Therefore, based on the current number of seats, PKR still has more parliamentary seats than UMNO,” he said.
Danish also pointed to Tuan Ibrahim’s previous remarks that there should be no concept of a “big brother” or “little brother” when PAS and UMNO negotiate political cooperation.
He questioned why UMNO appeared to be treated as the “big brother” when PAS was criticising PKR.
“When it comes to working with UMNO, he says there is no concept of a big brother. But when attacking PKR, suddenly UMNO is treated as the big brother.
“Is PAS’ politics based on principles or the circumstances of the moment?” he asked.
Danish further urged PAS to leave UMNO leaders to speak for the party whenever disputes arise between UMNO and PKR.
He said UMNO had its own leadership, including its president, deputy president, Youth chief and information chief, who were capable of explaining the party’s position.
“If UMNO has a problem with PKR, let UMNO’s own leaders speak. UMNO has not reached the point where it needs PAS to become its unofficial spokesperson,” he said.
