Muhyiddin says Bersatu to take PAS’s machinery snub in stride

PAGOH: Bersatu accepts PAS’s decision not to deploy its election machinery to assist the party’s candidates, despite them contesting under the Perikatan Nasional banner in the Johor election, says party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin said that while cooperation and mutual support were core principles of PN, Bersatu would not compel any party to provide assistance.

“It’s alright. I’m not asking anyone for help. Those who want to help are welcome to do so.

“Although, in principle, PN members should support one another, if there are partners who choose not to, we accept that,” he told reporters after accompanying Bersatu’s Bukit Kepong candidate, Dr Sahruddin Jamal, to the nomination centre.

He was commenting on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement yesterday that the Islamic party would not deploy its election machinery to assist Bersatu candidates in the state polls.

Hadi also dismissed claims that the political rift between PAS and Bersatu was a tactic aimed at boosting PN’s electoral prospects.

This morning, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party had instructed its machinery initially assigned to assist Bersatu’s candidates to be deployed to seats contested by PAS and other PN component parties instead.

Asked whether Bersatu would assist its PN allies, including PAS, Muhyiddin said the party remained open to offering support.

“If they want our support, we will help. Our approach and attitude remain open,” he said.