KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 -- PAS has confirmed it remains part of Perikatan Nasional (PN) despite announcing an immediate end to its bilateral political cooperation with Bersatu, as party leadership pointed to internal friction in key election battlegrounds including Negeri Sembilan as a factor behind the decision.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party's position within the broader PN coalition was unchanged following last night's special central working committee meeting chaired by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
"I don't want to comment further at this point. As of tonight, that is the situation (still in PN)," Ahmad Fadhli told reporters after the meeting at PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, as reported by Berita Harian.
Perlis PN chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim echoed the same position, saying the president's official statement on ending cooperation with Bersatu did not address PAS's role in the coalition.
"The president's statement did not touch on PN, so the position remains as before (still intact)," Shahidan said, adding he would issue a further statement on Perlis once he receives instructions from PAS central leadership.
Separately, Ahmad Fadhli provided the most detailed public explanation yet for the split, saying the decision was driven by concerns over Muslim unity rather than short-term political calculations.
He said Bersatu's stance during a recent PN Supreme Council meeting had been a key factor, specifically its opposition to the inclusion of parties such as Berjasa, Pejuang, IMAN, and PUTRA into the coalition despite a prepared proposal.
Ahmad Fadhli also cited a series of developments involving Bersatu in Perlis and Negeri Sembilan that had affected the morale of PAS grassroots machinery ahead of the upcoming state elections.
"PAS' priority remains the unity of the ummah," he wrote in a statement posted on his Facebook page, adding that recent developments within Bersatu had undermined that objective.
The decision endorsed a June 2 ruling by the party's Syura Council on policy, legal, and public-interest considerations regarding political cooperation based on the principle of Muslim unity.
Ahmad Fadhli said the relationship between PAS and Bersatu within PN would now be managed according to constitutional provisions and proper channels.
The development carries significant implications for the upcoming Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections, where seat allocation and coalition dynamics remain fluid. Both PAS and Bersatu had been contesting under the PN banner in previous elections, and the split raises questions about candidate selection and campaign strategy in contested seats.
The meeting reportedly did not discuss PAS's specific position within PN, leaving the broader coalition framework intact even as the bilateral partnership with Bersatu has been severed.
Political analysts have noted that PAS, with its strong grassroots machinery particularly in the Malay heartland, may choose to contest more seats independently in the coming state polls, potentially complicating PN's electoral strategy against Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
