PAS imposes gag order, reminds members to toe party line

As the state elections draw near, PAS has imposed a gag order on its members that prevent them from issuing statements to the press.

This is unless there is permission from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to do so.

In a statement today, the party’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the gag order is to avoid “creating an atmosphere that could undermine planning particularly during the election period.”

He also reminded all party members to toe the party line and throw their backing behind Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidates.

“Therefore, PAS makes it mandatory for PAS members and supporters to come out to vote as early as possible on polling day, and to give their votes to Perikatan Nasional,” he said.

Takiyuddin (above) said all PAS members and leaders must follow party instructions, particularly those coming from its Ulama Council, Central Working Committee, and Election Department.

Otherwise, disciplinary action including dismissal can be taken against those who disobey the party’s decisions and cause losses to the party.

“This includes actions any action like becoming a candidate or supporting candidates other than PN candidates,” he said.

The directive come after party grassroots members in Penang voiced dissent against PN fielding Gerakan president Dominic Lau in their area.

On Monday, amid talk that Lau may contest in of the state seats under the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituency, Tasek Gelugor PAS Youth issued a statement warning Lau to keep out of Malay-majority seats.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau

They threatened to launch a huge procession for an independent candidate if Lau is adamant about contesting there.

Lau’s electoral ambitions then turned towards Bayan Lepas, which again faced similar resistance from PAS members who threatened a boycott yesterday.

When PN announced its Penang candidates last night, Lau’s candidacy was not read out even though he was present at the event and his name was listed as the Bayan Lepas candidate in lists distributed by PN to the media.

PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin confirmed earlier today that the PN presidential council agreed to appoint Lau as the candidate for Bayan Lepas. - Mkini