PAS leaders need not quit Selangor exco posts, says Youth chief

MUKTAMAR | Newly-minted PAS youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi has told leaders in Selangor not to quit their government posts should the Islamic party cut ties with PKR.

“The executive committee members in the Selangor government are not appointed by PKR or DAP,” Khalil said at his maiden press conference in Alor Setar today.

“They are appointed by PAS, so there is no need for them to quit their posts should we break ties with PKR."

The exco members posts are decided by Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, with the consent of the Selangor ruler.

Azmin is PKR deputy chief. PAS has three exco members in the state government.

Khalil said this in response to the statement by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (photo) that the most “dignified and respectable” move for PAS to make is for its leaders to quit their state exco posts in the event their party is no longer friends with PKR.

Saifuddin said the final decision of PAS on the PAS-PKR relationship would impact PAS’ government posts and also, PKR’s strategies in the 14th general election (GE14).

Khalil said the PAS exco members in Selangor should remain in their posts to carry out the people’s mandate.

“We are working for the people, and not for the party, and they have to carry out the party’s order (amanat), and they need not heed PKR’s request.”

PAS has been mulling the matter since PKR was accused of show a lack of support for its president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member's bill to amend the syariah law.

PAS in several states, and its Dewan Ulama as well, have supported the idea of PAS breaking ties with PKR but the matter will be finalised by the party’s Dewan Syura, the highest decision-making body in PAS.

Khalil said it was quite clear that the Dewan Syura would agree with the state delegates and Dewan Ulama on their proposal to end PAS-PKR relations.

Khalid, who is Hadi's son, became the new PAS Youth chief after the former chief, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Aziz, gave up his post due to his age.

Defending Kelantan

Meanwhile, Khalil said the new PAS Youth leadership would lead the party in the coming GE14.

“We have a combination of the religious, professional and activist members in the Youth wing,” he said, after the PAS Youth's 58th muktamar in Alor Setar.

“Three of the Youth wing’s executive committee members (excos) are from Kelantan, and this signals our need to focus on defending Kelantan in the GE14."

This comes after PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man claimed that splinter party Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) was working with Umno to capture Kelantan from PAS.

Asked how PAS would defend Kelantan when the party plans to sever ties with other parties, Khalil said the state is different from others in that the majority of the people in Kelantan are Muslims.

“Here we can focus on our Islamic agenda, while ensuring that other races have rights,” he explained.

On the Dewan Syura’s decision on PAS-PKR relations, Khalil said the Youth wing wants the Dewan Syura to deeply consider the delegates' proposals to sever ties with PKR.

Ask what would happen if the Dewan Syura disagreed with the proposal, Khalil said the party leadership would then decide on how to move forward.

He added that PAS has already formed another opposition bloc - Gagasan Sejahtera - with Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia and was looking forward to strengthen it in view of the coming GE14.- Mkini