KUALA LUMPUR: PAS will not form any alliances with Umno, a party vice-president said, dismissing talk that the two parties would establish a unity government following the death of PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“I would like to state that PAS will never cooperate with Umno, as is being made viral on social media right now. The alliance between PAS-Umno has never been discussed at any of the party’s meetings,” PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said in a statement.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Umno president, met with Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob in Putrajaya on Monday to discuss matters in the state.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had already stated in last year’s muktamar, or annual general assembly, that PAS would not cooperate with Umno.

“Such a decision must be made through the muktamar, and not through the personal opinions of some members.”

Tuan Ibrahim added that in terms of seat distribution alone, such an alliance would not make sense as Umno was unlikely to hand over any of its 88 parliamentary seats to PAS, which holds 21 seats.

“If the excuse is to carry out the Islamic legal system, Umno would have carried it out already if it wanted to in all the states it rules,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

“For so long, Umno has oppressed the late Tuan Guru Nik Aziz and the people of Kelantan by denying it oil royalty, development, highways and airports, and has shown no respect for the federal system.

“Can a party that has perpetuated injustices against PAS for decades be trusted?” Tuan Ibrahim asked.

He added that those who used “Malay unity” as a reason to advocate a PAS-Umno pact should allow Malays to unite under PAS and the Islamic government it planned to establish.

“Corruption, abuse of power, mismanagement of the country’s economy and the use of Acts and cruel action to silence the rakyat must stop,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

PAS leaders have admitted previously that the party’s elections in June would see a final showdown between pro-Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Umno-friendly factions for control of the party. The winning faction will determine the party’s direction from this year until the next general election, including whether they will still be in PR.

Earlier yesterday, Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin mooted an alliance between the two parties as a religious obligation as it could help improve members of both parties spiritually.

Roslan Ismail, a Terengganu PAS leader and former Bukit Besi assemblyman, had suggested that PAS and Barisan Nasional should form the federal government together and enforce hudud systematically.

Former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad wrote in Utusan Malaysia on Sunday that both parties should set aside their differences and focus on saving the Malays and Islam. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 25, 2015.