Abdul Hadi (centre, in white) and PAS leaders join Rumah Gima residents in shouting ‘Happy Malaysia Day’ during a photo-call in front of the longhouse.
BINTULU: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang says the Islamist party is open to working with Sarawak-based political parties in bringing inclusive development to the rural and native people in the state.
He says the offer includes cooperating with the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the next state election for the sake of the people’s interests.
He stresses that Sarawak must be governed by local parties and that it is important to stop an ‘extremist and racist party’ like the Democratic Action Party (DAP) from controlling the state.
“We (PAS) cannot allow DAP, which is a racist and extremist party, from taking control.
“We don’t deny the rights of the Chinese, but don’t be extreme.
“In this matter, we trust GPS more than Pakatan Harapan (PH), which has been given power for a year but could not adhere to their manifesto as promised,” he told reporters after attending a PAS Malaysia Day gathering at Rumah Gima, along Jepak-Tatau coastal road here yesterday.
Abdul Hadi said this when asked on the possibility of PAS working alongside GPS in the future, to which he added that it would depend on the coalition as GPS would ‘know better’ the needs of the people.
“To have a relation with GPS, we will look at cooperating to bring changes in Sarawak.
“For the local Chinese, please choose a non-extreme party and not DAP, while for local Bumiputera, don’t choose PH.” On PAS having a Malaysia Day gathering at the longhouse, Abdul Hadi said what was important was to get all races in the grassroots together, especially among the native population.
He stressed that the event, involving the non-Muslim Iban community, was to show that diversity and unity not only existed, but could be enhanced further.
“Firstly, we chose this longhouse to point out that even though it is located not far from the town, it has no basic amenities despite Malaysia having been formed for so many decades.
“What is important is the feeling of independence, and not just being independent,” he added.
PAS deputy president Dato Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PAS central leaders and PAS Sarawak commissioner Jofri Jaraiee were among those present.