He said Umno should also be grateful to Bersatu and its sacrifices as they are now also part of the federal government, adding that Umno would not have had a chance to be in power otherwise.

“Our existence in the federal government is a result of our friends (in Bersatu) who left Pakatan Harapan (PH) to join us,” he said when opening the PAS Youth conference here today.

“We appreciate their big sacrifice and that is why we cannot push aside Bersatu. Without Bersatu, Umno would not be in government either. We will never abandon our friends (Bersatu).”

On preparations for the 15th general election (GE15), Tuan Ibrahim said an “important announcement” would be made on PAS’ political cooperation with other parties.

“We will not shift our stance in strengthening Perikatan Nasional as our platform in the coming GE15,” he said.

He said those interested in allying themselves with PAS cannot be “extremists” and cannot be from PH.

He said PAS would be prepared to go it alone, including the prospect of fighting Barisan Nasional head-on, if negotiations with other parties failed.

He also said the PAS central leadership was committed to fielding at least 30% youths as candidates in GE15.