Perikatan Nasional chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar today confirmed that Bersatu remains a component party of the coalition.
His statement directly contradicts an earlier one made by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who claimed that Bersatu was no longer part of PN after taking steps to form a new political coalition.
Samsuri (above) said that as of today, Bersatu remained a member of PN despite its disputed position following reports lodged by several of its leaders with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over the party’s membership in the coalition.
“For now, I can say that today, Aug 9, Bersatu is still a member of PN.
“Although the issue of Bersatu’s position in PN is somewhat unique because there have been reports lodged by several Bersatu lawmakers to the ROS regarding the party’s position in the coalition.
“Because of that, we also want to see to what extent the matter is being disputed. For now, they are still members of PN,” he said at a press conference after the 23rd Perak PAS Convention in Taiping, Perak, today.
However, Samsuri, who is also a PAS vice-president, stopped short of elaborating on Hadi’s conflicting position.
Instead, Samsuri stressed that any action regarding Bersatu’s position must be subject to laws and regulations.
Last Friday, Hadi claimed that Bersatu is no longer considered a PN component after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin expressed the intention to form a new political coalition.
After delivering his weekly sermon at the Rusila mosque in Marang, Terengganu, Hadi told reporters that Bersatu had “trapped itself” in its own political manoeuvres.
“There is no need for an official statement or decision anymore because it trapped itself when it made such a statement.
“According to the (PN) constitution, if they go to another (coalition), that is the end (of their membership in PN),” he said.
Azmin disputes Hadi’s remark
Subsequently, Bersatu issued a statement on the same day disputing Hadi’s interpretation of the PN constitution, with its secretary-general Azmin Ali saying there was no provision allowing a member party to be automatically dropped.
Azmin asserted that the PN presidential council had never convened a meeting to discuss Bersatu's membership status, as required under Clause 7A.
The former minister also claimed that the move by Samsuri and PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan to prevent Bersatu representatives from attending the coalition supreme council meeting on July 16 was a major violation of its constitution.
This had obstructed Bersatu from participating in discussions regarding the cooperation with BN as well as the distribution of seats for the Negeri Sembilan polls, he added.
"Bersatu will make an official complaint to the ROS regarding this serious constitutional violation," Azmin said.
Earlier today, Utusan Malaysia reported Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz confirming that his party will be seeking redress from the ROS.
Meanwhile, Samsuri said Tun Faisal and Bersatu had the right to lodge reports with the ROS and take whatever steps they deemed appropriate regarding Bersatu’s status as a PN component.
“Our country is an independent country and there are rules and laws that have been established.
“So, it is up to them where they want to take it, as long as they comply with the requirements of the law and regulations,” Samsuri said, adding that PN has also yet to hold any specific discussions on Bersatu’s position.
Focus on Malacca polls
According to the Terengganu menteri besar, the coalition’s priority now is to ensure that PN wins as many seats as possible in the next election, particularly in the upcoming Malacca state election.
“I think the number one priority in PN now is how to ensure that we win as many seats as possible in the Malacca election, particularly as it is the nearest, and of course at the federal level.
“So, there is nothing else on the agenda to be discussed apart from that,” Samsuri added.
Asked to comment on claims that he, as PN chairperson, appeared to be a "puppet", Samsuri said he could not prevent anyone from exercising their right to speak.
“It is up to them. I cannot stop what they want to say. Whatever they want to say, that is their right,” he added. - Mkini
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