PAS has dropped a contentious divorce clause from the pledge of allegiance ("baiah") to be taken by their candidates running in the coming 14th general election (GE14).

The matter was confirmed by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (above) following the standardisation of the pledge for all states by the party’s syura council.

“This time, we have standardised the “baiah” throughout the country (and) there are no additions.

“There is (now) no difference between (the “baiah” made by) Kelantan (PAS candidates) and candidates from other states,” he said during a press conference following PAS GE14 candidate list pre-declaration ceramah in Kota Bahru last night.

In the previous election, Kelantan PAS had included the clause for its election candidates specifying that they would have to divorce their spouses if they joined another party following an election win on a PAS ticket.

The clause was seen as an effort to discourage party-hopping and to ensure member loyalty.

Separate agreement

Tuan Ibrahim said yesterday, however, candidates from other parties within the PAS-led coalition Gagasan Sejahtera (Gagasan) would also have to sign a similar agreement.

“With our Gagasan Sejahtera friends, we have an agreement that they must sign.

“This agreement is done so that they would obey, (they are) prepared, and (they do not) betray (the coalition) and remain steadfast to the coalition’s struggle. Even the PAS Supporters' Club (DHPP) members must sign this agreement too, ” he said.

When asked on the steps that should be taken to prevent elected representatives from party-hopping, he said PAS had suggested that existing legislation be amended.

However, he said this proposal was rejected by the government on the grounds that it would violate the elected members' basic human and constitutional rights.

“So we do what we can and that is drawing up the agreement, the "baiah" and tie them (the candidates) to party programmes.

“We cannot prevent it if someone then still wants to leave (the party),” he said. - Mkini