Three PN Youth chiefs urge Muhyiddin to rescind resignation

 

Three Perikatan Nasional Youth chiefs in a meeting with Muhyiddin Yassin today voiced their wings’ views regarding the Bersatu president’s resignation from the PN chairperson post.

In a statement, MIPP Youth chief Justin Prabakaran said that he, along with Bersatu Youth chief Hilman Idham and Gerakan Youth chief Lee Boon Shian, had proposed that Muhyiddin withdraw his resignation and continue to lead the federal opposition coalition.

“We respect Muhyiddin’s decision to resign as PN chairperson. However, the resignation will certainly have an impact on the face of PN, especially in the upcoming general election.

“To win an election, PN must be led by a figure who can generate unity and secure the support of the majority of Malaysians,” said Justin after a two-hour meeting at Muhyiddin’s home.

“Therefore, all three youth wings are of the view that this matter must be resolved through consensus, as provided for under Clause 8.3(I) of the PN Constitution,” he said.

Previously, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had declared the party’s readiness to assume leadership of PN.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang

However, questions remain over the chosen candidate to replace Muhyiddin, with a reported internal tussle between PAS’ ulama faction, which is said to be endorsing Hadi or party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and others in support of a professional figure, including Terengganu Menteri Besar and party vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

‘PN chair must be a party president’

Justin, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the three youth wings’ view that the PN chairperson must be a party president who holds executive power and the authority to make policy decisions to ensure smooth administration.

“PN should be strengthened through coalition ethics, administrative discipline, and political cooperation with parties involved in the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat,” Justin further said.

He reiterated that any contrary interpretation of a leader’s eligibility to assume the PN chairperson’s position should be referred to Clause 20 of the PN constitution.

According to Justin, the relevant clause states, “If any confusion arises regarding the interpretation, arrangement, and meaning of any provision in this constitution or any of its rules and standing orders, then the interpretation, arrangement, and meaning of that clause as decided by the majority vote of members of the supreme council shall apply and be final.”

‘Where was the respect you now demand?’

Absent from the meeting was PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, who also previously did not endorse a Dec 30 statement by the three other PN Youth chiefs on how any decision regarding the coalition’s leadership must be referred to, discussed, and approved by the PN supreme council.

Yesterday, Justin and Hilman had separately voiced resistance to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s call for coalition leaders to urgently convene a supreme council meeting and appoint a new chairperson.

Instead, they said that, contrary to Hadi’s call for an urgent meeting, individual component parties should first be given time to deliberate on the matter.

In a veiled jab at Hilman, Afnan yesterday said, “There’s someone who urged the PAS president to respect other component parties with regard to the appointment of the new PN chairperson.”

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden

“I just wanted to ask, when you announced your party leader as the sole candidate for prime minister, did you respect the other component parties?

“And you made the announcement in front of your friends at a function where you invited your friends as guests. At that time, did you show respect for your friends?” said the Alor Setar MP.

“Brother. If you want to ask for respect from your friend, you also need to show respect. Simple,” said Afnan, who also alluded to the Perlis political crisis that sparked tensions between PAS and Bersatu.

Ahead of an expected internal meeting by PAS to finalise its candidate to replace Muhyiddin, last night, the party’s spiritual adviser, Hashim Jasin, shared a photograph of himself with Muhyiddin and Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali.

The senior cleric also posted a cryptic caption, “InsyaAllah, Alhamdulillah”, with no further explanation.

Malaysiakini understands that the meeting also took place at Muhyiddin’s Bukit Damansara home. - Mkini