PAS syura council defers Bersatu decision to central leadership

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS’s syura council has decided to leave it to the Islamic party’s central leadership to decide on its ties with Bersatu in Perikatan Nasional.

PAS syura council secretary Nik Zawawi Salleh said the council has entrusted the central committee with deciding on the matter based on the party’s policies, principles and interests.

“The council calls on all leaders, members and supporters to uphold party discipline, close ranks, and ensure the interests of Islam, the ummah and the country remain our highest priority,” he said when met at the PAS headquarters here today.

The council convened at the party’s headquarters at 2pm and was expected to make a decision on its relationship with Bersatu during its meeting.

This comes about two weeks after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party was reassessing its ties with Bersatu and would possibly contest the next general election without the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party.

Hadi cited several issues that had strained ties between the two parties, including the move to unseat the Perlis chief minister, alleged interference in appointments involving Kedah and Kelantan, and Bersatu’s opposition to admitting new Malay-Muslim parties into PN.

The Marang MP also criticised Bersatu for demanding a disproportionate share of seats despite its weak grassroots machinery, pointing out that much of the groundwork in previous elections had been carried out by PAS volunteers.

Nik Zawawi said the syura council was concerned about the internal conflict and crisis in Bersatu that has led to the purging of multiple leaders, including its former deputy president, Hamzah Zainudin.

The Pasir Puteh MP added that Bersatu’s internal turmoil had affected PN’s strength and stability, undermining people’s confidence in its ability to champion the unity of the ummah.

The syura council meeting was chaired by its deputy chief, former Kelantan menteri besar Ahmad Yakob, and attended by Hadi, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and secretary-general Annuar Musa, among others.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today