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TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes PAS has chosen not to name a prime ministerial candidate because the party realises it lacks the strength to form the federal government on its own.
Speaking to FMT, the former prime minister said PAS is aware that its influence remains concentrated in the East Coast and that announcing a candidate too early could alienate potential allies and voters elsewhere.
“PAS knows they cannot become prime minister solely on their own strength. They need support from other parties nationwide,” Mahathir said.
“The number of seats they have is not enough to form the Federal Government, so they need to cooperate with others. That’s why they have not named a prime ministerial candidate,” he added.
PAS currently holds 43 parliamentary seats, more than any other single party, including DAP, PKR, and its PN partner Bersatu. While Bersatu previously named its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as PN’s choice for prime minister, PAS has refrained from committing to any name.
Last month, PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang told the Dewan Rakyat that the decision was also to protect the safety and integrity of potential candidates.
“Why not name from the start? To protect safety,” he said.
“If it’s known who the candidate is, there is a risk of being bribed or framed, such as someone planting drugs in their car. That could disqualify the person from contesting.” Hadi added.
According to Hadi, PAS’s focus remains on winning the upcoming 16th General Election with integrity.
“This election is not even won yet, but people are already talking about the prime minister’s post. That’s not our priority,” he said. —Nov 2, 2025
Main image: Independent News Service
The post PAS avoids naming PM candidate because it is not ready to rule alone: Mahathir first appeared on Focus Malaysia.
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