A senior PAS leader believes that any individual in the Islamist party who harbours the hope of the Islamist party merging with Umno should leave the party.

“If any individual wants to merge with Umno, then let that individual be the one who leaves,” PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad said in a statement today.

The PAS leader pointed out how the party had lost numerous top leaders in the past because of them wanting to be with Umno.

PAS, Idris said, has in the past lost its founder Ahmad Fuad Hassan, former president Asri Muda, former vice-president Nakhaie Ahmad and former top PAS leader Hassan Adli and many others.

“But did PAS become weak? PAS was still formidable because of its policies, not because of individuals in the party.

“Anyone can leave and insyaAllah, PAS will remain strong,” he said.

'Personal view cannot be applied'

Idris was responding to claims spread through social media and in the mainstream media that PAS wants to merge with Umno.

“I want to stress here that one’s personal view cannot be applied in this matter,” he said.

PAS members must obtain information directly from the party leadership, which speaks based on a decision of the party as opposed to personal opinions, he stressed.

“PAS members must join programmes and dialogues with PAS leaders.

“Don’t refer to the mainstream media and social media, even to the alternative media. They have their own agenda to remove PAS’ fight,” Idris said.

Najib extended an olive branch to PAS during Umno’s general assembly on Dec 11.

And last Thursday, both Najib and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang shared the same stage at a conference.

PAS, on the other hand, has yet to make an official decision on the matter.