Speaking on the sidelines of a forum today, the PH deputy president, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu, said PAS wasn’t strong whenever it stood on its own, though he conceded the Islamist party had its strengths in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
“But other states, no. Their wins in other areas like Selangor and Johor (in past elections) is because of the support from the non-Malays,” he said at the forum titled “Pakatan Menuju Putrajaya”, held at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
He said without the support of the non-Malays, PAS will be worse off than before the 2008 elections, when it, together with PKR and DAP, scored major wins against Barisan Nasional.
“In many seats in the west coast, more than 20% of the votes were from non-Muslims.
“Most of the studies show that support for PAS will be low. So, three-cornered fights actually benefit us.”
He said this was especially the case in seats where there was equal support for BN, PH and PAS, as the votes of non-Muslims will decide victory.
The former PAS deputy president said from his experience, PAS candidates in Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan were likely to lose their deposits.
“The coming election is between BN and PH. Anyone else will be left behind. They can only get the votes of their hardcore members.”
On the matter of PKR’s continued wooing of PAS, Mat Sabu said PKR was free to talk to whoever it wanted but the final decision of working with PAS lay with the PH presidential council.
On Aug 26, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said he had engaged in discussions with PAS leaders over possible political cooperation not in his personal capacity but based on the party’s decision.
However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution later denied that such a decision was made at the party level.
The move also did not sit well with some other leaders, including Selayang MP William Leong, who announced his resignation from the political bureau, the highest decision-making body in PKR, over the overtures being made to PAS.
PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli also openly questioned Azmin for holding discussions with PAS even though the Islamist party had put forward a scenario of it engaging in three-cornered fights with PH components and BN in the general election.
PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim muddied waters later when he said PKR should cooperate with PAS, only for PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad to state that the opposition pact would put an end to such talks.
Earlier today, PKR central leadership council member Elizabeth Wong said PAS’ demand that PKR ditch DAP and Amanah in order to resume negotiations showed the Islamist party was still interested in seeking political cooperation.
PKR’s Elizabeth Wong sees signs of PAS’ interest to continue negotiations