Its state commissioner, Iskandar Samad, said today the decision was made based on recent political developments that may mean the party no longer needed to adhere to the agreement among components of the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat that was made in the general election of May 2013.
“We are prepared to contest the seats if we are not tied to the agreement made in 2013,” he said.
“This would give PAS the space to contest any seat, as the other parties can also run in constituencies now held by us if no agreement is reached,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Kubu Baru Sports Complex here.
“We have submitted our list of candidates to the party’s national headquarters for consideration.”
Iskandar said Selangor PAS would comply with whatever its national leadership decided if it chose to end the political cooperation the party maintained with PKR in the state.
Relations between PAS and PKR have been tense over the past few months as PKR, which holds the menteri besar’s post, has continued to maintain ties with DAP and Amanah, a splinter of PAS.
The situation became critical when Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who is also PKR deputy president, mocked former PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz when he lost the leadership race for the party’s Pengkalan Chepa division in Kelantan on March 18.
PAS could risk losing its influence in the Selangor government if the party cuts ties with PKR.
PAS currently has three executive councillors in Selangor, including Iskandar himself, who chairs the housing, building management and urban settlement portfolio.
The others are Zaidy Abdul Talib (infrastructure, public amenities and agro-based industry portfolio) and Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Islamic affairs, Malay customs and heritage, rural and traditional village development).
The Selangor Assembly has 56 seats, which are currently occupied by DAP (14), PKR (13), PAS (13), BN (12), Amanah (2 ) and independents (2).