KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — PAS said it would not be a part of Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Harapan due to differences in beliefs.

The Islamist party's president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported claiming that PAS would not join either the ruling or federal Opposition coalitions as it contradicted the party's principles.

"PAS will not be together with Pakatan Harapan as there is a clash in policies and concepts, moreover there are leaders and parties in it that continue to oppose Islam openly," he was quoted saying by local daily Sinar Harian in Marang, Terengganu.

Hadi also compared BN and Pakatan to "live monitor lizards", which brought problems and "diseases" to the country.

"To join Pakatan, the monitor lizard is bigger and the disease is even more deadly," the Marang MP cryptically said.

PAS exited Pakatan last year after it refused to work with the DAP and severed ties with the party. This has led the party to seek new allies ahead of the next general elections.

Several PAS divisions have also recently conflicted with PKR, with ties between both parties up for review at the PAS muktamar next month.

PKR, DAP and PAS remain part of the Selangor state government headed by PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), led by former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, officially joined Pakatan Harapan Monday.