Hadi: Time not right to register Pakatan

Hadi (right) now says there’s no rush to register Pakatan. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang suggested today that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was in no hurry to be formally registered, in remarks that appear to indicate ideological differences with its political partners remained an obstacle.

“We do not want to act in a hurry to register Pakatan.

“Pakatan does not necessarily have to become a single party. What is important is for us to bring out what we have in common, and to put off things which we do not agree on,” he said after a special meeting with political bloggers here today.

Hadi’s remarks come just a day after the PR coalition held its first ever convention. A common policy framework was also tabled at the convention.

His comments today suggest PAS may still have doubts about joining a formal coalition.

The PAS leader pointed out that the three PR parties — PAS, PKR and DAP — still have ideological differences, and the time was not right for the alliance to be formally registered.

In pushing for a delay in formalising the coalition, PAS has put into doubt the step made by PR coordinator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to register PR.

Zaid is understood to have already submitted a formal application to the Registrar of Societies to register PR as a legal entity.

At yesterday’s PR convention, the leaders of the three parties had also taken great pains to put on a united front amid rousing speeches outlining their intention of ousting Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general elections.

But Hadi’s statement today is likely to cause some uncertainties again among fellow PR leaders about PAS’ commitment.

“It is not time yet for the three parties to be registered, and PAS has not made a decision yet on registration,” he said.

He said, however, that while it was not the right time for PR to cement their relationship because of differences in ideology, the three parties still had common ground in issues like justice and poverty eradication.

Hadi pointed out that it was important for the three parties to first work on common ground, and “talk of other things later.”

On the question of the next general elections, Hadi said that “when the time comes we will discuss the matter.”

The PR alliance was formed soon after the results of Elections 2008 when DAP, PKR and PAS combined to deprive BN of its traditional two-thirds majority and won control of five state governments.

It has taken PR leaders nearly two years to put together its first ever common policy framework, with an eye towards formal registration.