Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the opposition, including PAS, will lose in the next general election if the Islamic party refuses to work together.

Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson, added that it was “very sad” that PAS is refusing to work with DAP.

“PAS elected members increased because working with DAP, Chinese voters helped PAS to win in areas where there were quite big numbers of Chinese voters.

“I hope to be able to talk with PAS to explain that if they don’t want to be in a coalition with us, they in fact will be helping the government because they are going to lose many seats,” he told a forum in Petaling Jaya today.