He said PH’s political approach in holding discussions on various issues would ensure fairness and mutual understanding in resolving problems that arise in Kelantan, which has been ruled by PAS since 1990.
“The Islam that we promote does not oppress. The Islam that we put forward does not have any terms that cannot be discussed,” he told the national PKR Youth Congress here.
He said the approach contrasted with the move by PAS to end its “tahaluf siyasi” (political cooperation) with PKR without any prior dialogue on the matter between the parties.
“We want to ask whether they (PAS) are in tune with the aspirations of the people. Who would need to be blamed if there are three-cornered contests (in the next general election)?” he said.
Hafidz criticised the way PAS terminated its working relationship with PKR which had been in existence since 1999.
On May 11, PAS’ Syura Council resolved to end the cooperation, accusing PKR of failing to support its Islamic agenda, particularly in not supporting its tabling of a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to bring about shariah amendments for heavier penalties to be imposed on Muslims.
“They accused us of being betrayers when our de facto leader (Anwar Ibrahim) had issued a statement which clearly supported the tabling of the motion (to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965),” he said.
“This means that the reason they gave for cancelling the cooperation with us was not right,” he added.
Hafidz also said the relationship between PKR and the PAS-led Kelantan government was “hard to explain” and was not always good.
After PAS ended the ties, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had on May 17 announced the party’s decision to direct all its members with politically appointed positions in the Kelantan government to step down.
“We abide with what has been said by the president,” Hafidz said, adding however that it is still not too late for PAS to work with PH in facing the general election due by the middle of next year.
He also urged PKR’s leadership to field more young professionals as candidates in the election.