PAS to set up new opposition bloc with multiracial party

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan says the Islamist party has plans for a new opposition bloc that will be the ‘third political force’ by the next general election. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 10, 2016.PAS is setting up a new opposition bloc that will eventually grow to be as big as Pakatan Harapan by the next general election, says Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.

The Islamist party's secretary-general said PAS is roping in a “multi-racial party” as well as non-governmental organisations, but they would not be working with Umno.

“We call it a third political force,” he told reporters when met at Parliament today.

"In our constitution we can work with anyone who has the same objective, fight and demands as us."

Takiyuddin added that PAS still saw itself as an ally of PKR, but it would "definitely" not work with DAP again, nor was it a part of opposition alliance Pakatan Harapan.

He said any cooperation with Umno was limited to "issues that are important and beneficial to the people and Islam".

And while multi-cornered fights in polls traditionally benefited ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), Takiyuddin did not believe a third coalition would tip the chances in BN's favour.

He said three-cornered battles between BN, Pakatan Harapan and PAS's new bloc would only happen if they were unavoidable.

"I don't think it (the new bloc) will benefit BN. I think they will be more worried," he said.

He said PAS would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the new multiracial party on March 16 at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Pakatan Harapan was formed between DAP, PKR and Amanah last year after the demise of Pakatan Rakyat, which was set up in the wake of the 2008 general election.

Pakatan Rakyat dissolved due to a fallout between DAP and PAS over the Islamist party's insistence on implementing hudud, the Islamic penal code, in Kelantan. – March 10, 2016.