The internal tensions engulfing Perikatan Nasional intensify, with the coalition chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar appearing to tighten his grip on managing the crisis with Bersatu.
This comes after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin accused PAS yesterday of acting unilaterally by holding talks with BN ahead of the Negeri Sembilan election.
Samsuri, who is also a PAS vice-president, said that all preliminary discussions and engagements with other parties were conducted with his knowledge and approval as PN chairperson.
"Referring to the statement by the Bersatu president dated July 15, it is hereby informed that all discussions and engagements with any parties at the initial stage were conducted with my knowledge and approval as the chairperson of PN.
“And these matters have since been finalised and approved by the PN supreme council at its meeting today," he said in a statement today.
Samsuri added that he also approved the seat allocation among the four component parties for the said state election and reaffirmed that its candidates will contest under the PN logo.
“The supreme council agreed to approve the seat allocation negotiations for the Negeri Sembilan election among PN component parties - namely PAS, (Parti) Wawasan (Negara), Gerakan and MIPP.
“It also agreed to allow PN candidates to use the coalition logo in the Negeri Sembilan state election, as previously agreed,” the Terengganu menteri besar said.
Internal turmoil
Yesterday, Bersatu announced that it would contest the Negeri Sembilan polls under its own logo, citing the PN leadership’s failure to convene the coalition’s supreme council meeting to decide on policy matters and finalise seat allocations ahead of the election.
Whether Bersatu will reveal the party’s candidates today along with other PN components, Muhyiddin said a decision on the number of seats to be contested will be made today, followed by an announcement on Friday.
He also declined to confirm whether Bersatu will challenge PAS and Wawasan Negara in seats not contested by BN, stating, “I can’t explain, because as I have said earlier, we were not involved in the discussions so we don’t know where they are standing.”
Subsequently, PN information chief Annuar Musa claimed that Bersatu’s move to contest the Negeri Sembilan election under its own logo amounts to the party voluntarily parting ways with the coalition.
Taking to Facebook, the former minister said PAS “wished the party all the best”.
He noted that Bersatu’s announcement came before the PN supreme council was due to finalise the coalition’s candidates, seat allocations and election logo at its meeting today.
He added that the development did not come as a surprise and claimed that PN had been informed since last month - before nominations for the Johor polls - that Bersatu was planning to establish another political platform outside the coalition.
Annuar also claimed that Bersatu had officially submitted a wish list seeking to contest 15 seats in Negeri Sembilan during negotiations within the PN seat allocation committee.
He argued that the request was unrealistic given that PN comprises six component parties and has fewer than 15 seats to distribute.
However, Muhyiddin’s former aide, Marzuki Mohamad, chided Annuar and claimed that the PN seat negotiation meeting was postponed "on a trivial and unreasonable pretext" and alleged that it was deliberately contrived to sideline Bersatu.
"Bersatu was not invited to attend the PN supreme council special meeting to finalise the candidate list,” he added.
Complaint lodged with ROS
Earlier today, New Straits Times reported PN deputy chairperson Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man saying that the postponement of the seat negotiation meeting was purportedly linked to a complaint lodged with the Registrar of Societies by a Bersatu member, questioning the legitimacy of the party's leadership.
He also dismissed notions that the delay was because PAS wanted to pursue political cooperation with BN.
"I understand the decision to postpone the seat negotiation meeting was due to a complaint lodged with the ROS by a Bersatu member.
“The member questioned the legitimacy of Bersatu's leadership, claiming its supreme council did not meet the required quorum.
"PN does not know the actual status of the matter. Therefore, the PN secretary-general requested Bersatu to clarify the situation and obtain confirmation from the ROS.
"However, no explanation has been provided to date," he added. - Mkini
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