MELAKA: Melaka Pas yesterday declared its willingness to withdraw from contesting should there be any instances of a three-way fight in the upcoming state election.
State Pas commissioner Datuk Kamarudin Sidek said while it would adhere to the party leadership's decision to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in the state polls, it would, however, do its best to avoid three-cornered battles.
Pas, which had formed part of the federal government together with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) under Perikatan Nasional (PN), nevertheless has an existing cooperation with Umno under the Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance.
"We accept the decision as PN is registered as a political party while Muafakat Nasional (MN) isn't.
"PN and Barisan Nasional have agreed that there will be only direct contests with no clashes for seats. But if it does happen, Pas will back the incumbent," he told Harian Metro when contacted.
On Monday, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the party's working committee agreed that it would use the PN banner in the state polls.
Melaka Umno had stated that it would only be working with Pas in the election in order to strengthen its cooperation with the Islamic party under their MN agreement, and has rejected any possibility of working with Bersatu.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii, meanwhile, blamed Bersatu for Pas having decided to contest under the PN banner.
He claimed Bersatu was not looking to win in Melaka, but was merely out to weaken Umno in the state.
"Bersatu said they want to contest eight seats, not including those contested by Pas and Gerakan. They want to contest in Masjid Tanah and Jasin (both Umno strongholds).
"This was done on purpose, as they knew this demand would be rejected by Umno.
"This charade by Bersatu has succeeded in compelling Pas to use the PN logo," he said in a statement.
