Majority of PN parties agree to set up presidential, executive councils

 

A majority of Perikatan Nasional parties have given the thumbs up for a proposal to set up a presidential council and executive council for the opposition coalition, according to a source.

It is learnt that this would indirectly abolish the need for a chairperson, which has become a bone of contention over the past few weeks between PN parties.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Gerakan head Dominic Lau, and Malaysian Indian People’s Party chief P Punithan agreed to the proposal in principle at a meeting on Jan 29 at Muhyiddin’s house, the source said.

PAS, the coalition’s largest component party in terms of elected lawmakers and members, was not present.

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When contacted, Lau confirmed that the leaders present at the meeting had agreed to the plan.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau

A committee will also be established, comprising the secretaries-general of each component party to discuss amending PN’s constitution, he said.

“We discussed ways to strengthen PN and the unity between all four parties since the general election is not far off.

“All proposals are at the discussion stage, and all differing views can be resolved at the discussion table,” Lau added.

‘PAS will be informed’

A source at the meeting said the leaders had agreed to present the PN supreme council with drafts of these proposals and changes to the coalition’s constitution.

“This amendment would indirectly abolish the position of the PN chairperson without having to debate about it,” the source told Malaysiakini.

Commenting on this possibility, Lau said the abolishment of the chairperson post “is just a proposal” and has not been finalised as it’s still under discussion.

It is learnt that the outcome of the meeting will be communicated to PAS leaders.

The Jan 29 meeting was held as debate raged among coalition members, particularly Bersatu and PAS, on who would replace Muhyiddin as chairperson following his resignation on Jan 1.

PAS had said it was ready to nominate a chairperson from its party, yet a special PN meeting that had been earlier scheduled by coalition deputy secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was cancelled.

Takiyuddin had described the pre-council meeting that took place instead of the meeting he called as “unconstitutional”.

The PAS secretary-general said that although PN's constitution included a provision for the creation of a “presidential council”, such a body has never been formed. - Mkini