Penang PAS commissioner jumping ship?

Penang PAS commissioner Salleh Man has denied that he is planning to jump ship or quit his party because of disatisfaction with the DAP-led government.

Salleh (centre in photo), who is Permatang Pasir assemblyperson, said the allegations were raised by “Umno boys” who captured photographs while he was having a meal with his family in Permatang Pauh.

“I arrived there first with my family. When I had almost finished my food, Permatang Pauh Umno Youth chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said and BN coordinator for Permatang Pauh Rahim Man came close to me,” Salleh told Malaysiakini.

“They tried to shake hands with me but I did not really talk to them.

“I know they took photos, and I left in a short while because I saw a group of Puteri Umno members holding a meeting there,” he added.

Salleh was responding to allegations on an anonymous blog which carried photos of him appearing friendly with two men, believed to be the Umno leaders.

The pro-Umno blog Utara News speculated that Salleh will leave his party in a surprising move on April 7, during a ceramah in Permatang Pasir, featuring ousted Selangor PAS commissioner Hassan Ali.

The blog quoted another website which claimed that Salleh felt pressured as the DAP-led government in Penang had marginalised PAS in making decisions related to Muslim affairs.

In the blog post, Salleh was said to be less comfortable with the accusations hurled by PAS members who wished to see the party playing a bigger role in the state government.

The allegation comes on the heel of the abrupt resignation of state PAS Supporters’ Club chief Dr Ooi @ Vellautham from Pakatan Rakyat over media reports that the organisation was “inactive”.

Not attending Hasan Ali's ceramah

Salleh is also embroiled in a controversy where he may be bypassed as Penang Islamic Affairs Council chief as the post may go to PKR’s state executive councillor and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim.

Meanwhile, Salleh said it was a coincidence that he met Mohd Zaidi and it had nothing to do with him wanting to jump ship or quit PAS.

He also denied strongly that he would be attending the ceramah with Hasan as he already has a prior appointment at the Tabung Haji complex in Sungai Ara on the same day.

“This is all slanderous as the general election is coming close,” he said.

When asked if he had expressed any disatisfaction towards the state government, Salleh denied the matter, saying he did not mention anything as such to anyone.

Salleh said he also heard the leaders speaking negatively about Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Abdul Jalil Abdul Majib.

“My advice to Abdul Jalil, the former Penanti assemblyperson, is to be careful of this lot,” he added.