PETALING JAYA: Former Kota Bharu MP Zaid Ibrahim has urged PAS to go solo in the next general election (GE16) instead of forging an alliance with Barisan Nasional.
Zaid, who used to be in Umno but is now in PAS, claimed that BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was insincere about working with the Islamic party.
He also believed PAS was capable of winning 60 parliamentary seats in the peninsula on its own in GE16.
After the polls, PAS can form the government with parties in Sabah and Sarawak by offering them a "fair deal" on matters critical to the development of both states, Zaid added.
"The Umno president (Zahid) once again decided not to attend an important event with PAS this Friday. Earlier, it was a much-touted presence at the PAS muktamar that did not materialise.
"You mean PAS still harbours hope? Zahid is (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim's man yesterday, today and forever. I know it's difficult, but PAS should focus on winning 60 parliamentary seats in the peninsula on its own.
"Working with Zahid does not guarantee Anwar will not remain in power. Zahid, in fact, is inclined to keep Anwar in power. So what does PAS want?" he said in a Facebook post.
Zaid was responding to reports that Zahid had cancelled his attendance at a mega "ummah unity" event organised by PAS at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, this Friday.
The deputy prime minister was supposed to deliver a speech, along with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, while over 100,000 are expected to attend the event.
The gathering will commemorate 36 years of Kelantan being governed by PAS.
Yesterday, Zahid confirmed that BN would form an alliance with “PAS and friends” for the Melaka polls.
The Umno president said the Umno-led coalition would contest 21 of the 28 seats up for grabs while PAS and its Perikatan Nasional allies would vie for the remaining seven.
However, PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan denied that the distribution of seats had been finalised, saying further negotiations are ongoing to refine the pact.