KUALA LUMPUR: Pas today dismissed claims suggesting that there were discussion on the possibility of the Islamist party joining the unity government.
Its deputy president, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said the party has no plans to join the unity government and that were no discussions held over the matter.
Tuan Ibrahim added that the matter was never discussed at the party level or within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition bloc.
"We are committed to strengthen the cooperation in PN to face any by-elections or elections in the future," he told the New Straits Times.
Claims that PAS plans to join the unity government, Tuan Ibrahim said, reflect the weaknesses of the federal administration.
"We will remain in the opposition bloc to provide checks and balances against the government," he said.
Pas Ulama Council chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya also confirmed that no discussions have taken place between the unity government and the oppositon as PN is now focusing on the Sg Bakap by-election in Penang.
"No discussions have taken place. Pas and our partners in PN are focusing on contesting against Pakatan Harapan in the Sungai Bakap by-election at the moment.
"If we really wanted to be friends (join the unity government), we would not be going against them (in the Sungai Bakap by-election)," he said.
Earlier today, unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil was non-committal when he was asked if there were discussions on the possibility of Pas joining the unity government.
Fahmi today said many discussions were ongoing between both groups. He said there were discussions between menteris besar from Pas-led states as well as members of parliament and the prime minister.