‘Technically’ out of PN? Tun Faisal turns tables on PAS

 The Bersatu information chief questions Takiyuddin Hassan’s assertion that Bersatu remains legally part of PN but has ‘technically’ left the coalition.

Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz (left) questioned PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan whether the same reasoning used to state that Bersatu had ‘technically’ left PN could apply to PAS over their alleged behind-the-scenes negotiations with other parties before recent state elections.

PETALING JAYA:

PAS could also be deemed to have “technically” left Perikatan Nasional if it held behind-the-scenes negotiations with other parties without the coalition’s mandate or knowledge, says Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

He was responding to PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan’s comments earlier today, that Bersatu remained legally part of PN but had “technically” left the coalition after contesting the recent Negeri Sembilan state election under its own logo.

Speaking to FMT, Tun Faisal questioned PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin on whether the same reasoning used against Bersatu could apply to PAS over alleged behind-the-scenes negotiations with outside parties without PN’s mandate or knowledge.

He said this included the “Bangkok Move”, and negotiations between other parties before the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

Tun Faisal also asked whether PAS could be considered to have “technically” left PN if its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, did not abide by the PN Supreme Council’s decisions, including on the opposition leader.

The PN Supreme Council originally chose PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the opposition leader on May 16, but Hadi bypassed the council on June 13 to reinstate Hamzah Zainudin to the role instead.

Bersatu leaders and aides, including Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s former aide Marzuki Mohamad and Tun Faisal, criticised Hadi after stating that Hamzah’s appointment was never discussed or approved by the PN Supreme Council.

“Don’t invent the term ‘technically’ to justify actions that clearly violate the PN constitution,” Tun Faisal told FMT.

“This is one of the main problems within PN. Actions and decisions are made based on PAS’s political interpretation, not PN’s constitution.”

Earlier today, Takiyuddin said Bersatu remains a component party of PN from a legal and constitutional standpoint, noting that Bersatu’s status as a PN component party could not be denied legally despite PAS suspending political ties with the party.

Cracks started emerging in PAS and Bersatu’s relationship towards the end of last year, with tensions culminating in PAS ending their political cooperation in June.

Muhyiddin later accused PAS, which now chairs PN, of leading the opposition coalition astray and making it “toxic”.

In January, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed meeting several leaders from PAS and Bersatu in Bangkok last December to discuss uniting the Malays through a “grand coalition”.

Muhyiddin had alleged that the talks were part of efforts to restructure the government, and had cited them as a reason for then deputy president Hamzah’s dismissal from the party in February. - FMT