Azmin: I have tolerated PAS long enough

SELANGOR Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who counts tolerance as among his virtues, says he has tolerated PAS long enough and ruled out any chance of cooperating with the Islamist party in the 14th general election (GE14).

In an interview with Oriental Daily News published yesterday, Mohamed Azmin said all preparations made in Selangor for the coming polls have only Pakatan Harapan in mind, adding that he has never discussed seat allocation with PAS or made any secret pact with the latter.

He said he had tolerated PAS, despite its announcement that it had severed ties with Pakatan, and allowed Selangor PAS to remain in the state government because PAS assemblymen were elected by the people to form the state government under the then Pakatan Rakyat.

“I have tolerated them for some time, (as) they (PAS assemblymen) were not chosen by me. It was the choice of the people then (in GE13),” said Mohamed Azmin, who used the word “tolerate” thrice in the interview.

“I tolerated Selangor PAS assemblymen because they have not deviated from the state government’s policy of fair treatment for all, not because I like PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.”

He said once the state assembly’s current five-year term expires, the state will go back to the people who will decide its fate for the next five years, and “they (PAS assemblymen) will also have to make a decision”.

“Since the PAS central leadership has made it clear that it had severed all ties with Pakatan, I will not work with them in GE14.

“I believe that with me making public my decision not to cooperate with PAS, Selangor can expect to see more three-cornered fights (in GE14). We are prepared for three-way fights and are confident that, given our good track record in administering Selangor, we will be able to retain power.”