KUCHING: PAS is still undecided on whether to contest in the 12th state election which is due in 2021.
The party’s vice president, Idris Ahmad, said the party’s headquarters need to get feedback and reports from PAS Sarawak and then discuss whether to contest in the election.
In the last state election PAS fielded 11 candidates, and five candidates in last year’s general election, but lost in all seats.
Idris said even though PAS has failed in its attempts to win in Sarawak, it has not weakened the party’s spirit, adding that they need to work harder.
“It is normal for a new party (in Sarawak) like us not to get big support but that will make us work harder to explain our struggles and policies to the people,” said Idris to reporters after he officiated at PAS Sarawak’s annual meeting here today.
Asked on the cooperation between PAS and Umno in the last three by-elections, Idris said PAS will support and assist opposition party candidates in any by-election, including the upcoming Sandakan by-election.
He said PAS working with Umno does not mean that it supports the party and its leaders’ scandals and wrongdoings.
“We are just working together on the same causes which are good for the country and the rakyat,” he added.
He said in the past, the party also worked together with DAP but that cooperation did not last long as DAP was against the Islamic State and hudud law to be implemented in this country.
“When we are friendly to Umno, we discuss about Islam and we also worked with Umno because the party has a large number of members and supporters.
“Besides that, Umno also has past experience being in the government and PAS has experience as an opposition.
“In this case, PAS can learn from Umno on how to be a government while Umno can learn from PAS how to be an opposition party,” added Idris.
PAS has 11 branches in Sarawak with 3,500 registered members.
